Human Rights Global Policy - Version 1 5 / 9 1. Global Labor Standards 1.1. Legal employment 1.1.1. Child labor Schneider Electric is committed to respecting the Rights of the Child, including the right to free education, and ther efore is committed to contribut e to elimination of child labor. In practice, Schneider Electric will not engage in or support the employment of children under the age of 18 . Some exceptions are accepted for ch ildren b etween the age of 15 and 18 when professional experience is part of their education path (e.g. trainees, apprentices) . Schneider Electric , to the best of its knowledge, will refrain from working with business partners that are using child labor in their operation s . Schneider Electric is committed to be proactive in eliminating child labor through local initiatives promoting education. 1.1.2. Forced labor Based on the I nternational L abor O rganization definition, the term forced or involuntary labor shall mean all work or service s for which the person has not offered themselves voluntarily or willingly . Examples include, but are not limited to, human trafficking, slavery, debt bondage, ID retaining. Schneider Electric will neither u se nor support the use of forced o r involuntary labor of any kind , directly or indirectly . Schneider Electric , to the best of its knowledge, will refrain from working with business partners that are using forced or compulsory labor in their operation s . 1.2. Freedom of association and collective bargaining Schneider Electric considers freedom of association as the basis of a regular dialogue between a com pany and its employees. To that purpose, Schneider Electric respects the individual right of its employees to freely join, participate in or quit labor organizations to assert and defend their in terests. Subsequently, Schneider Electric guarantees that any employee wishing to do so shall be protected against any internal measure limiting his or her freedom of association such as discrimination of any kind, pay loss or dismissal. Schneider Electric also recognizes the importance of dialogue with freely appointed employee represent atives, employee representative bodies (such as Works Councils or employee forums) or organizations (like trade unions), and supports collective bargaining.