NBA Properties, Inc.
The NBA’s mission is to be the most respected and successful sports league and sports marketing organization in the world. In keeping with this mission, NBA Properties, Inc. (“NBAP”) is committed to conducting its business in a socially responsible and ethical manner. We expect all NBAP licensees, including their contractors, engaged in the manufacture and sourcing of products bearing NBA, WNBA, NBDL and USA Basketball (collectively “Product Suppliers”) to share this commitment. At a minimum, all Product Suppliers must adhere to the following Licensee and Supplier Code of Conduct:
- ETHICAL STANDARDS
Product Suppliers shall conduct their businesses in accordance with the highest standards of ethical behavior.
- COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS
Product Suppliers shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations of the countries, states and localities in which they operate.
- EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES
NBAP will only do business with Product Suppliers whose employees are appropriately compensated, present at work voluntarily, not at undue risk of physical harm and not exploited in any way. In addition, Product Suppliers must comply with the following specific standards:
- Wages and Benefits: Product Suppliers shall provide wages, overtime compensation and benefits at not less than the minimum levels required by applicable laws and regulations or the prevailing local industry levels, if higher.
- Working Hours: Product Suppliers shall, at a minimum, comply with all applicable working hours laws and regulations. Except in unusual business circumstances, employees shall not be required to work more than the lesser of (a) 48 hours per week and 12 hours of overtime or (b) the limits on regular and overtime hours allowed by local law or, where local law does not limit the hours of work, the regular work week in such locality plus 12 hours of overtime. In addition, except in unusual business circumstances, employees shall be entitled to at least one day off in every seven-day period.
- Child Labor: Product Suppliers shall not employ any person under the age of 15 (or 14 where allowed by local law) or under the local age for completing compulsory education, if higher.
- Forced Labor: Product Suppliers shall not use any forced labor, whether in the form of prison labor, indentured labor, bonded labor or otherwise.
- Harassment or Abuse: Product Suppliers shall treat each employee with dignity and respect, and shall not use corporal punishment, threats of violence or other forms of physical, sexual, psychological or verbal harassment or abuse.
- Nondiscrimination: Product Suppliers shall not discriminate in employment practices on the basis of race, religion, age, nationality, social or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, political opinion or disability.
- Freedom of Association: Product Suppliers shall recognize and respect the right of employees to join organizations of their own choosing and shall neither threaten nor penalize employees for their efforts to organize or bargain collectively.
- Health and Safety: Product Suppliers shall provide employees with a safe and healthy working environment. Manufacturing facilities shall, at a minimum, contain clean restrooms, potable water, adequate lighting, adequate ventilation and fire exits. Residential facilities, if provided, shall also be kept sanitary and safe.
- ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
Product Suppliers shall comply with all applicable environmental laws and regulations.
- COMMUNICATION
Product Suppliers shall take appropriate steps to ensure that the provisions of this Code are communicated to employees, including the prominent posting of the Code (in the local language) in their manufacturing facilities.
- MONITORING AND COMPLIANCE
Product Suppliers shall conduct periodic audits of manufacturing facilities, on the basis of which they shall certify to NBAP on request either that (a) all products bearing NBA, WNBA and USA Basketball trademarks have been manufactured in compliance with this Code, or (b) identified facilities have been found not to be in compliance with this Code, in which event the Product Supplier shall specify appropriate and effective steps to remedy the non-compliance. NBAP or its representatives are authorized to engage in monitoring activities to confirm compliance with this Code, including on-site inspections of manufacturing facilities and residential facilities, audits of records relating to employment matters and private interviews with employees at all levels. Product Suppliers shall retain and make available to NBAP or its representatives, either on site or at agreed upon locations, all documentation that may be required to assess whether or not the Product Supplier is in compliance with this Code.
- FAILURE TO COMPLY
NBAP reserves the right, in addition to all other legal and contractual rights, to terminate its relationship with any Product Supplier found to be in violation of this Code.