wxrks Version 1.2
1. Introduction: A Shared Commitment to the Human Being
At wxrks, we believe our supply chain is an essential extension of our own commitment to the "Human Being." We partner only with vendors, agencies, and freelance linguists who share our core values of Trust, Open Communication, and Structure.
This Code establishes the mandatory standards of ethical, social, and environmental responsibility for all wxrks partners. It is explicitly aligned with the UN Supplier Code of Conduct and the International Labour Organization (ILO) Core Labor Standards.
2. Labor Standards and Human Rights
wxrks vendors must uphold the fundamental human rights of all workers and treat them with dignity and respect.
Prohibition of Forced Labor: Vendors shall not use any form of forced, bonded, indentured, or slave labor. All work must be voluntary, and workers must be free to leave their employment with reasonable notice.
Prohibition of Child Labor: Vendors shall not employ children under the age of 15, or the minimum age for employment in the relevant jurisdiction, whichever is higher (in alignment with ILO Convention No. 138).
Non-Discrimination & Identity-Blind Meritocracy: Consistent with the wxrks internal culture, vendors must not discriminate in hiring, compensation, or promotion based on race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation. We expect our partners to value skill and performance as the primary metrics of success.
Wages and Benefits: Vendors must comply with all applicable wage laws, including those relating to minimum wages and legally mandated benefits.
The Right to Disconnect: We expect our partners to actively reject "always-on" culture. Vendors must ensure their employees have reasonable working hours and the ability to fully disconnect, recognizing that high-quality output requires high-quality rest.
3. Business Ethics and Integrity
wxrks expects the highest standards of integrity in all business interactions. Partners must have a zero-tolerance policy toward any form of proscribed practice.
Anti-Corruption & Bribery: Vendors must not engage in any form of corruption, extortion, embezzlement, or bribery. This includes a strict prohibition on "facilitation payments"—even where permitted by local law.
Conflict of Interest: Vendors must avoid any interaction with wxrks employees that creates a conflict of interest. Any existing or potential conflicts (e.g., family ties or shared financial interests) must be disclosed immediately to the wxrks Well-being Steering Committee.
Fair Competition: Vendors must conduct their business in line with fair competition and anti-trust laws.
Data Sovereignty & Privacy: Vendors must adhere to the strict technical and ethical data handling requirements of the wxrks. Stateless AI Protocol. Confidential information must be protected, and vendor staff must be trained on the sensitivity of WHO institutional data.
4. Health, Safety, and Well-being
Even in a digital or remote context, vendors are responsible for the well-being of their teams.
Digital Ergonomics: Vendors are encouraged to provide guidance and resources to their remote workers to prevent musculoskeletal issues and cognitive fatigue.
Psychological Safety: Vendors must maintain a workspace free from harassment and toxicity. We expect our partners to mirror our "Open Door" policy, ensuring their workers have access to management to report grievances.
5. Environmental Responsibility
We prioritize partners who proactively manage their environmental footprint, both physical and digital.
Digital Sustainability: As a virtual network, we expect vendors to optimize their digital infrastructure by utilizing energy-efficient hardware and supporting green-energy data centers where possible.
Waste Mitigation: Vendors should follow local regulations regarding the disposal of electronic waste and strive to minimize physical waste in their operational hubs.
6. Supply Chain Transparency & Sub-contracting
Cascading Compliance: Vendors are responsible for ensuring that their sub-contractors and suppliers also adhere to the principles set out in this Code.
Transparency: Upon request, vendors must provide information regarding their own supply chain to ensure compliance with the WHO’s sustainable procurement requirements.
7. Monitoring, Reporting, and Non-Retaliation
wxrks believes that ethical standards are maintained through transparency and accountability.
Open Communication Channels: We extend our culture of transparency to our vendors. Any vendor employee or stakeholder who identifies a violation of this Code has direct, skip-level access to flag these issues to wxrks management or our Well-being Steering Committee.
Protection of Whistleblowers: wxrks prohibits any form of retaliation against any individual who reports a concern in good faith.
Verification: wxrks reserves the right to verify a vendor’s compliance with this Code through self-assessments, requested documentation, or periodic audits. Non-compliance may lead to the suspension or termination of the business relationship.