These documents are a means for companies to clearly and publicly state the way in which they intend to do business to their suppliers, customers, consumers and shareholders. Some are intended for wide distribution, including posting in workplaces. Compliance certificates are yet another vehicle used by companies to state their policies regarding child labor. These certificates generally require suppliers, buying agents, or contractors to certify in writing that they abide by the company's stated standards prohibiting the employment of children. Still others state their child labor policies in formal documents such as purchase orders or letters of credit, making compliance with the policy a contractual obligation for suppliers.
Some companies have both formal codes of conduct and contractual clauses or a certification form.
Others' policies on child labor are exclusively contained in contracts or certification forms rather than in a formal code of conduct. There are also differences among companies in how they have created their codes of conduct. United States corporations that have adopted codes of conduct more recently have benefitted from the experiences of corporations that took this path earlier. In other instances, companies reported that they utilize the code of conduct or policy of a trade association or buying agent - either in lieu of, or in addition to, their own. Table II-2 shows what type of policy has been adopted by respondents.