Code of Ethics

Article 1. Scope
The provisions in this code of ethics apply to all translators and interpreters both during their working activities and in all relationships with third parties.

Article 2. Disciplinary and regulatory power 
TradInFo’s governing bodies have the power to enact disciplinary measures against those who violate these provisions. The bodies also have the power to draw rules of conduct to best protect professional decorum.

Article 3. Voluntariness of action
Responsibility for a violation stems from the voluntariness of the conduct that caused it, without regard for its origin (intentional or caused by negligence). The evaluation of said misconduct shall take into account the overall behaviour of the accused; as a result of that only one measure will be applied in each action, even if multiple instances of the same behaviour have occurred.

Article 4. Working activities abroad
During working activities abroad, translators and interpreters shall comply with this Code of Ethics as well as to any rule or code of conduct applied by the relevant professional association of that country, if the conditions to apply the reciprocity principle are met.

Article 5. Probity, dignity and decorum
Translators and the interpreters shall conduct themselves with probity, dignity and decorum. The members of TradInFo pledge to refrain from voicing any political opinion in their professional activity or whenever they are called to speak as members of TradInFo.

Art. 6. Loyalty and fairness
Translators and interpreters shall carry out their professional activity with loyalty and fairness. They are strictly forbidden to profit from information acquired during professional activities. Interpreters shall perform assigned tasks objectively and without bias. Court interpreters shall always remember that they are working in the high interest of Justice. Translators shall perform the task assigned to them completely and thoroughly.

Article 7. Due diligence
Translators and interpreters shall perform their duties with due diligence and in particular they comply with the terms and conditions of their assignment. Translators must also comply with all terms of delivery and any layout requirement of the translated text.

Article 8. Secrecy and confidentiality
Translators and interpreters must keep their work and its subject matter secret and confidential. Said obligation extends on the documents translators and interpreters work with.

Article 9. Independence

Translators and interpreters shall retain their independence in performing their professional activities. They must be aware of the importance of their work and retain their full decision-making autonomy on all the technical choices and respective implementation methods.

Article 10. Competence

A translator/interpreter’s acceptance of an assignment implies that they have the skills and competence required for its successful completion. Translators and interpreters shall in any case inform the client about any circumstances preventing them from performing the requested activity and request, if needed, the support of another translator/interpreter.

Article 11. Professional development

Translators and interpreters shall keep their skills and knowledge (including language skills, general and specialised skills and knowledge) up to date via relevant training activities.

Article 12. Compliance with tax and welfare requirements

Translators and interpreters shall comply with all the welfare and tax rules and regulations in force and the requirements thereof.

Article 13. Prevention of incompatibility

Translators and interpreters shall avoid any situations of incompatibility and inform the client about possible grounds for conflicts of interests that may potentially compromise the quality of the provided service and request advice from the Association in case of doubt.

Article 14. Promotion of professional activity

Translators and interpreters are allowed, out of respect for the right to information, to advertise their specific branch or activity and/or specialisation. Said advertising shall in any case be respectful of the professional dignity.

Article 15. Prohibition of intermediation

Translators and interpreters shall, in their professional activities, refrain from performing any form of intermediation activity for profit.

Article 16. Duty to respect working conditions

The translator and the interpreter must adhere to the working conditions defined by the association.

Art. 17 Loyalty and fairness among colleagues

Translators and interpreters shall at all times behave cordially and be loyal towards their colleagues to ensure a peaceful and productive work environment. They shall refrain from any activity or form of advertising that may cause damage or prejudice to other colleagues. In particular, they shall never criticize the work done by their colleagues or imply their own superiority or ability to provide better services than them.

Article 18. Unfair competition

Translators and interpreters shall refrain from any behaviour that can be classified as “unfair competition”. Translators and interpreters shall not take advantage of any information they may acquire about clients of other colleagues or during team assignments.

Article 19. Information about colleagues

Translators and interpreters shall never disclose personal information about colleagues or about their behaviour. Any violation of this code of ethics must be reported in writing to the relevant bodies of the Association.

Article 20. Cooperation with colleagues

Translators and interpreters pledge to cooperate with and support to colleagues to ensure maximum efficiency of teamwork in every working situation.

Article 21. Trust-based relationships

Mutual trust between a translator/interpreter and their client is the foundation of the translator/interpreter’s professional activity.

Article 22. Failure to fulfill assignments

Failure to fulfil an assignment or delay in its performance is a violation of professional duties, subject to disciplinary action, if the fault can be attributed to negligence or carelessness (regardless of the fact that it prejudices the interests of the client).

Article 23. Obligation to provide information

Translators and interpreters must inform the client about the working conditions applicable to the assignment as well as provide them with all the relevant information.

Article 24. Obligation to return client’s material

Translators and interpreters shall always return to the client all the documents and other materials they received, if so requested.

Article 25. Action for non-payment of amounts due

In compliance with the applicable terms of employment, translators and interpreters shall request that the assignments be delivered in writing. If the fee for their professional services is not paid according to the terms, Translators and interpreters can proceed against the client according to the applicable terms and conditions and the laws in force.

Article 26. Contacts with other associations

Relationships with other associations concerning the circulation of information and the enactment of joint actions to protect the profession shall always be encouraged.

Article 27. Management of situations of conflict or incompatibility

Members of TradInFo are allowed to join other associations or groups, provided that the bylaws and/or regulations and the purposes of said associations or groups are not in conflict with the provisions of the bylaws and the code of ethics of TradInFo. Members of TradInFo who are representatives or delegates for other associations or groups shall refrain from participating in meetings between associations to avoid situations of conflict.