How we work with the Transparency Act

in English hereThe Norwegian Transparency Act requires companies in Norway to account for how they work to ensure basic human rights and decent working conditions. This requirement extends beyond our own operations to include our supply chain and business partners.

HBC management must set a clear tone from the top, responsibility must be placed internally, and training must be provided to employees. In addition, we must communicate our expectations clearly to our suppliers and business partners, and demand that they act responsibly in accordance with our expectations.

To achieve our goal of integrating accountability throughout the business, we have implemented customized strategies, guidelines and routines that have been adopted by the Board of Directors and Management. Our guidelines and routines have been updated and adapted to the Transparency Act so that we can best reduce the risk of negative consequences for basic human rights and decent working conditions. The guidelines and routines are evaluated on a regular basis and updated if necessary.

Our code of conduct is made known to all employees, suppliers and business partners, and HBC has started work to include this as part of the agreement with our suppliers and business partners. We follow Norwegian legislation for health, environment, and safety in the workplace, for equality and the absence of discrimination, as well as other relevant legislation for our business.

The following guidelines and routines, which are used actively in our work to act as a responsible business, have updated:

• Code of conduct

• Ethical guidelines for suppliers and business relationships

• Routine for receiving and handling information requirements

• Routine for handling whistleblower, notifications and complaints

You can find more in the Reporting for Duty Assessments in Norwegian here and in English here.