The RBA members use a standard code of conduct to ensure proper labor and ethics practices and businesses are conducted in a manner that is healthy and safe to workers whilst also maintaining good environmental protection responsibilities throughout the supply chain of manufactures and their respective suppliers.
At MESH, our team of consultants and subject matter experts have deep understanding of the latest RBA code of conduct and we can provide our expertise to help your organization comply to the requirement of the RBA in practical and economical steps.
RBA Implementation
Our team is ever ready to guide your organisation on how to effectively adhere to the code of conduct including the development of necessary process, procedures and record keeping.
RBA Assessment
We are able to provide independent gap analysis assessment based on the latest RBA Code of Conduct to ensure your organization will be in the right track for either your customer/third-party assessment.
Training
MESH is an industry leading training provider registered with the Human Resources Development Corporation (HRD-Corp). We can carry out RBA Awareness Training, RBA Implementation Training and other related training.
The RBA Code of Conduct is a set of standards covering Labor, Health & Safety, Environment, Ethics, and Management Systems. Version 8.0 (effective 1 January 2024) is the current edition companies use to assess and improve social and environmental performance across their supply chains.
Yes. If your customer is an RBA member or requires RBA compliance from its supply chain, you’re expected to meet the Code of Conduct even if your organisation isn’t a direct RBA member. Compliance is typically a contractual requirement flowed down through the supply chain.
Working hours, including overtime, must not exceed 60 hours per week except in emergency circumstances, and workers must be allowed at least one day off in every seven days. Where local law sets a stricter limit, the stricter standard applies.
No. Under the RBA’s Employer Pays Principle, workers must not pay for their own recruitment; all related fees and costs must be borne by the employer. Where a worker is found to have paid such fees, the employer is required to repay them.
No. Overtime must be voluntary, not mandatory, and it must be compensated at a premium rate above the worker’s regular hourly wage, in line with local law requirements.
The Validated Assessment Program (VAP) is the RBA’s standardised third-party audit process used to verify a facility’s compliance with the Code of Conduct. It involves document review, worker and management interviews, and an on-site walkthrough, typically taking 1 to 5 days depending on the facility’s size and risk level.
A Validated Assessment Report is generally valid for two years from the closing meeting date, unless a significant change occurs at the site, such as a change in ownership, management, or a major process, in which case a new assessment is required sooner.
Facilities must submit a corrective action plan addressing each finding within an agreed timeframe. In many cases, a follow-up or closure audit is then conducted to verify the corrective actions before the facility is considered compliant again.
Because the RBA Code of Conduct is a private supply-chain standard rather than a government regulation, non-compliance consequences are contractual rather than legal. This can include being blocked from new business, having your VAP status suspended, or being terminated as a supplier by RBA member customers.
RBA Implementation support helps you build the systems, policies, and practices needed to meet the Code of Conduct before an audit, closing gaps proactively. RBA Assessment services prepare you specifically for a VAP audit (or your customer’s own audit) through gap analysis, mock audits, and readiness reviews.
Yes. Many of our clients are assessed by their customer’s own audit team rather than RBA directly, but since these audits are typically based on the RBA Code of Conduct, our implementation and readiness support applies either way.
Yes. We provide training on the RBA Code of Conduct, covering labor standards, health and safety, ethics, and how to prepare for and manage a VAP or customer audit.
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