Supplier Code of Conduct Policy Guidelines

1. Introduction:

stc is committed to doing business with the highest standards of ethics and integrity stc expects that its suppliers share this commitment fully.

2. Compliance with Laws and Regulations:

Supplier shall comply with all applicable Laws and Regulations, the requirements set forth in this stc’s Supplier Code of Conduct Form, and its contractual obligations to stc.

3. Environmental, Health and Safety and Sustainability Practices:

Supplier shall provide a safe and healthy workplace for its workforce consistent with the best available international standards of public health and hygiene and shall conduct its business in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner.

4. Anti- Corruption:

Supplier shall prohibit by policy and proactively monitor its business activities to prevent any form of corruption, bribery, extortion, embezzlement, fraud, kickbacks or any other similar unethical or unlawful conduct that might be directed towards stc, any government or government official, or any private party. Supplier shall similarly prohibit and prevent any form of payment, loans, privileges, benefits, inducements or other transfers of anything of value directly or indirectly to stc or its employees or their families that appear to be intended or designed to secure an improper or unethical advantage or to influence or compromise the objective judgment of stc, its employees or representatives.

5. Gifts, Gratuities and Hospitality:

Supplier and its employees shall not offer or provide any gifts or hospitality to stc, any of its employees or their families.

6. Fair Trade Practices:

Supplier shall not engage in any unfair or unlawful trade and commercial practices, including, without limitation, collusive bidding, price discrimination, or other anti-competitive or unfair trade practices.

7. Fair Employment Practices:

Supplier shall ensure fair employment practices for its workforce by respecting the dignity, privacy and rights of its employees and contractors and refraining from:

• Unlawful discrimination. 
• Use of child or forced labor. 
• Exceeding applicable working time hours. 
• Unfairly or inadequately compensating employees for their work.

8. Confidential Information and Intellectual Property:

Supplier shall respect the following:

• Intellectual property (patents, trademarks, service marks, copyrights and trade secrets) of others, including that of stc.
• Preserve and protect stc trade secrets, proprietary information or other confidential information from inadvertent or intentional disclosure.
• Not solicit, encourage or induce any current or former stc employees to disclose any stc confidential, proprietary, trade secret or any other restricted information for any purpose.

Supplier understands and acknowledges that stc considers any breach of confidentiality or unauthorized disclosure of intellectual property or confidential or proprietary information or material to be very serious and grounds for disqualification of the supplier or termination of the relationship.

9. Cybersecurity:

Supplier shall implement cybersecurity safeguards that comply with applicable law and are no less rigorous than the best industry security practices such as ISO/IEC 27001 on “Information Security Management System-Requirements,” NIST and equivalent standards.

10. Publicity:

Supplier shall not initiate any public communications, press releases, or other forms of publicity that relates to stc or to the Supplier’s relationship with stc without the advance, written approval of the stc Corporate Communications and Commercial Procurement Departments.

11. Conflict of Interests and Communications:

Supplier shall communicate fairly, honestly and transparently with stc. Supplier shall promptly and proactively disclose to stc any interests or circumstances that either actually conflict or might cause the appearance of a conflict with the best interests of stc, including, for example, any personal, financial, or family relationships the Supplier or its employees may have with any employee at stc. Supplier will cooperate with stc in the management of any conflict of interests.

12. Sub-tier Suppliers:

If a Supplier is authorized by stc to sub-contract any part of the scope of work, then Supplier shall flow down this Code Form as part of the subcontract so that such sub-tier suppliers are bound to adhere to the requirements of stc’s Supplier Code of Conduct Form.

13. Reporting and Compliance:

Supplier shall promptly report to stc any suspected or actual violation of stc’s Supplier Code of Conduct Form to stc through this email address: [email protected] The Supplier shall cooperate with stc in any inquiry, audit, or other investigation that stc deems necessary relating to any suspected or alleged violation of this Code Form, regardless of whether the Supplier reported the suspected violation.

14. Monitoring:

stc reserves the right to audit the Supplier to monitor its compliance with this Code. In addition to audits, stc monitoring may include on-site visits and inspections, questionnaires and review of other information necessary to evaluate supplier compliance with stc’s Supplier Code of Conduct Form. Supplier shall cooperate in such audits or monitoring and, to the extent shortcomings are identified, take prompt and effective corrective action. Supplier shall maintain appropriate and relevant records pertaining to the scope of work supplier performed for stc for a period of at least 10 Years after the date of final payment for the work. Supplier acknowledges and understands that stc’s evaluation of supplier’s adherence to stc’s Supplier Code of Conduct Form is an important factor in stc’s overall performance assessment of the supplier, and that stc will consider that assessment in selecting future bidders, administering contracts and deciding whether to disqualify or restrict the supplier from future business opportunities.