15 - Responsible Production

The health and wellbeing of our employees is important to us, as is the impact our production has in local communities. Prior to COVID, we visited our production facilities four times in the span of three years, and we continue to maintain frequent contact with the factory manager. In her words: “Our company is human-oriented. We implement humanized management, attach importance to human nature, human value, status and role, treat employees sincerely, and the leaders will help them if they have any difficulties.” (我们公司尊崇以人为本，实行人性化管， 重视人性、人的价值、地位和作用，真诚对 待员工，员工有什么困难疾苦，领导都会及 时予以帮助)

SALARIES AND BENEFITS

AIZOME production in China works with factories that employ 30 workers in dyeing and 100 workers in tailoring. At these factories, each employee receives a reasonable living salary that exceeds the minimum wage. All employees receive an employment contract, are on the payroll, and are paid monthly. The factory pays old-age insurance, unemployment insurance, employment injury insurance, basic medical insurance and maternity insurance. Employees generally work 9 hours a day, including breaks amounting to 1 hour, and receive compensation for overtime work, which is always voluntary. The factory complies with the Labor Law of the People’s Republic of China, Production Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China, Regulations on Enterprise Minimum Wage, Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Rights and Interests of Women. To ensure the safety of the employees, the factory conducts safety production training for employees and the safety administrator conducts regular equipment safety inspections. The factory is heated in the winter months, cooled by AC in the summer months, and properly ventilated. Drinking water and food are available onsite. Throughout COVID, the factory was disinfected daily. If an employee is diagnosed with COVID, they are granted paid sick leave. Additionally, the factory provides employees gifts for important holidays, such as March 8, Mid-Autumn Festival, and Chinese New Year. 30 workers have been with the factory for 3 years or longer. The tailoring factory maintains a Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Certification. Any off-cut fabric is recycled. The factory invites various tests and audits on a recurring basis from the Chinese tax and fire departments. Wastewater testing is done by the environmental protection administration every week.