IMF Supplier Code of Conduct
Source details
- Canonical URL
- IMF Supplier Code of Conduct
Other formats
Purpose and Scope
- The purpose of this Supplier Code of Conduct (Code) is to ensure that the IMF’s suppliers adhere to high standards of safe working conditions, fair and respectful treatment of employees, and ethical and sustainable environmental practices.
- "Supplier" means any person or entity with whom the IMF does business.
- Unless otherwise expressly stated, the provisions of the Code apply to the supplier’s business generally and not only to its specific engagement with the IMF.
- Suppliers must communicate the terms of the Code to, and cause compliance by, all the supplier’s officers, directors, employees, agents, subcontractors, and affiliates; breaches by such parties will be considered breaches by the supplier.
Continuous Improvement
- The provisions set forth in the Code provide the minimum standards required of suppliers.
- The IMF expects suppliers to continually review and improve all tenets of their workplace environments and working conditions outlined in the Code.
- The Code is subject to modification by the IMF as it deems necessary, and the latest version can be accessed via the IMF's website.
Management, Monitoring and Evaluation
- Suppliers are expected, at a minimum, to have established clear goals toward meeting the standards in the Code.
- Suppliers must establish and maintain appropriate management systems related to the content of the Code.
- Suppliers must actively review, monitor, and modify management processes and business operations to align with the Code.
Labor (Minimum Standards)
- Forced or Compulsory Labor:
- The IMF expects its suppliers to prohibit forced or compulsory labor in all its forms.
- Child Labor:
- Suppliers must comply with all applicable national law governing child labor including the minimum age for employment and working conditions.
- Suppliers must ensure that work is safe and does not jeopardize the health, well-being, or educational opportunities of children.
- Discrimination:
- Suppliers must ensure equality of opportunity and treatment without discrimination on grounds of race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, disability, political opinion, national extraction or social origin and such other ground as may be recognized and applicable under national law.
- Suppliers shall not engage in discriminatory employment practices relating to recruitment, promotion, training, remuneration and benefits.
- Wages, Working Hours and Other Conditions of Work:
- Suppliers must ensure that wages and working conditions are fair in compliance with applicable law, regulations, or collective agreement.
- Health and Safety:
- Suppliers must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable and in accordance with applicable national law, that workplaces, machinery, equipment and processes are safe and without risk to health.
- Suppliers must ensure chemical, physical and biological substances and agents are without risk to health and that appropriate protective measures and equipment are provided where necessary.
- Industry Certification:
- Suppliers are expected to maintain professional certifications and continuous compliance with all industry regulations.
Human Rights
- Human Rights Abuses:
- Suppliers are expected to support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights and ensure they are not complicit in human rights abuses.
- Harassment, Harsh or Inhumane Treatment:
- Suppliers must create and maintain an environment that treats all employees with dignity and respect.
- Suppliers shall not engage in actual or threatened violence, harassment, abuse of power, and/or sexual exploitation and abuse.
- Harassment is defined as behavior, verbal or physical, that unreasonably interferes with work or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment.
- Sexual harassment is any behavior of a sexual nature that is unwelcome, offensive, or that creates a hostile or intimidating work environment.
Environment
- Environmental Regulations:
- Suppliers must comply with all applicable laws and regulations regarding protection of the environment.
- Suppliers should support a precautionary approach, undertake initiatives to promote environmental responsibility, encourage diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies, and implement sound life-cycle practices.
- Chemical and Hazardous Materials:
- Suppliers must identify and manage chemical and other materials posing a hazard if released to the environment and ensure safe handling, movement, storage, recycling or reuse and disposal.
- Wastewater and Solid Waste:
- Suppliers must monitor, control and treat wastewater and solid waste generated from operations, industrial processes, and sanitation facilities as required prior to discharge or disposal.
- Air Emissions:
- Suppliers must characterize, monitor, control and treat air emissions of volatile organic chemicals, aerosols, corrosives, particulates, ozone depleting chemicals and combustion by-products as required prior to discharge or disposal.
- Minimize Waste, Maximize Recycling:
- Suppliers must reduce or eliminate waste of all types, including for water and energy, at the source or by modifying production, maintenance and facility processes, materials substitution, conservation, recycling and re-using materials.
Ethical Conduct
- Prohibited Activities:
- The IMF does not tolerate fraud, theft, corruption, collusion, coercion, obstruction, or conflicts of interest (“Prohibited Activities”) as defined in the IMF’s Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Policy.
- Suppliers must interact honestly and with integrity and abide by the highest ethical, legal, and moral standards.
- Engaging or attempting to engage in Prohibited Activities may be grounds for termination of the supplier’s relationship with the IMF and disqualification from further engagements.
- The IMF reserves the right to recover any financial loss incurred as a direct result of Prohibited Activities proven to have been carried out by the supplier.
- Suppliers are expected to put in place procedures for identification, reporting, investigation, and mitigation of Prohibited Activities and perform periodic assessments.
Reporting of Prohibited Activities and Other Misconduct
- Suppliers are required to immediately report allegations of Prohibited Activities and other alleged misconduct involving IMF officials or personnel, activities, or projects to the Office of Internal Investigation (OII).
- Any person may report suspected Prohibited Activities to OII on an anonymous basis through the IMF’s confidential “Integrity Hotline” at https://www.imf.org/integrityhotline or by a toll-free number, 1-800-548-5384, available within North America on a 24/7 basis.
- Suppliers are expected to have an independent, confidential mechanism for workers, suppliers, shareholders, or other stakeholders to raise concerns about potential breaches of the company’s code of ethics or local laws without fear of retribution.
- Suppliers must fully cooperate with any audit or investigation required by the IMF, including making information and records available for inspection by the IMF’s auditors or investigators.
Conflict of Interest
- Suppliers must disclose any situation in their dealings with the IMF that may give rise to an actual or potential conflict of interest.
- Disclosure includes any IMF official or personnel that may have an interest of any kind in the supplier's business whether economic or relational ties by consanguinity or affinity.
- Suppliers must promptly report any potential or actual conflict of interest to the IMF Chief Procurement Officer by e-mail to IMF-CPO@IMF.org.
Gifts, Hospitality and Political Lobbying
- IMF employees are not permitted to accept any type of gift or any offer of hospitality from a current or potential supplier.
- IMF employees will not accept invitations to sporting or cultural events, offers of holidays or other recreational trips, transportation, or invitations to lunches or dinners.
- Suppliers must not offer any benefit, such as free samples, goods or services, employment, or sales opportunity to any IMF employees.
- Suppliers are expected to have a policy on political engagement, covering lobbying and donations to political causes or candidates, to the extent permitted by law.
Compliance Requirement and Consequences
- Suppliers are required to accept and maintain compliance to the Code as a condition of doing business with the IMF.
- Failure to comply or failure to inform the IMF of a breach may lead to investigation by OII, exclusion from solicitation processes and/or termination of relationship with the IMF, as applicable.
- The IMF reserves the right to take any measures it deems necessary to safeguard its reputation, depending on the severity and impact of the breach.
Questions and Contact
- Questions related to the Code may be addressed to the IMF Chief Procurement Officer at IMF-CPO@IMF.org.
Content in this bundle
References