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Fair Labor Association Accredits Six Participating Companies' Programs to Improve Conditions for Contracted Factory Workers
Fair Labor Association Accredits Six Participating Companies' Programs to Improve Conditions for Contracted Factory Workers
Published 05-13-05
Submitted by Fair Labor Association
The compliance programs of adidas-Salomon, Eddie Bauer, Liz Claiborne, Inc., Nike, Phillips-Van Heusen, and Reebok apparel received accreditation following an extensive performance review based upon independent factory monitoring and verification reports of supplier facilities conducted by accredited external monitors, and a thorough audit of the required monitoring protocols, training programs and auditing systems in their programs.
"Accreditation in simple terms means accountability and verification. FLA's purpose is to cultivate a culture of respect for workers and we do this by holding companies accountable to the workplace code of conduct," said Auret van Heerden, FLA President and Chief Executive Officer. "Collectively these companies are responsible for consumer products made in 2,800 factories in 62 countries. Each of them has worked hard to establish a workplace standards program that complies with the FLA's considerable requirements. We hope that consumers and others interested in the programs of these companies will consult the FLA's first two annual reports and the tracking charts which report on the monitoring of factories by the FLA's accredited independent external monitors (available through the FLA website at www.fairlabor.org) and will also look for the FLA's third annual report due for publication later this year."
Adele Simmons, Chair of the Board of Directors, noted that accredited programs are reviewed for re-accreditation every two years. "No participating company ever stops implementing its compliance program, and the FLA never stops evaluating them," Simmons said.
"Accreditation is an important milestone, and we congratulate the companies that have achieved this distinction, but we now look to them to achieve even higher levels of compliance and to play leadership roles in an effort to lead further development of conditions for factory workers around the world."
FLAis a non-profit organization that combines the efforts of industry, non-governmental organizations, colleges and universities to promote adherence to international labor standards and improve working conditions worldwide. The FLA Workplace Code of Conduct specifies compliance with forced labor, child labor, harassment, abuse, nondiscrimination, health and safety, freedom of association and collective bargaining, wages and benefits, hours of work, and overtime compensation.
The Board of the FLA consists of representatives of companies, NGOs, and universities. When the Board finds a company's workplace standards program to be in substantial compliance with FLA requirements, it achieves the designation, Fair Labor Association Accredited Compliance Program.SM Participating companies have the choice of seeking accreditation after either a two- or three-year initial implementation period. This is the second year FLA has accredited programs. Reebok's footwear compliance program, which elected a two-year initial implementation period, last year became the first program to achieve accreditation.
In considering whether to accredit a company's compliance program in accordance with the FLA charter, the staff and Board evaluate the extent to which a company has:
For more information about FLA, the accreditation process and other initiatives, visit www.fairlabor.org.
Why Accreditation?
Since the Fair Labor Association's formation in 1999 (an outgrowth of the Apparel Industry Partnership), the non-profit organization has diligently worked toward improving working conditions worldwide. In collaboration with its multi-stakeholder partners - NGOs, universities and brands - improvements can be made through sustainable compliance programs that focus on independent monitoring, remediation and verification. It soon became evident that by accrediting compliance programs, the FLA demonstrates its commitment to holding companies accountable and working to meet the core labor standards.
What is Accreditation?
Accreditation signifies that a Participating Company's workplace standards program is in substantial compliance with FLA requirements at the completion of the company's initial implementation period. The company can choose a two- or three-year initial implementation period. The Board of Directors bases its decision on criteria derived from the Obligations of Companies as defined in the FLA's Charter.
Why does the FLA accredit a program and not the company?
The reason can be summarized in three main points:
How does a Participating Company become accredited?
When a company joins the FLA, it commits to establishing a workplace standards program that complies with FLA requirements, and chooses either a two- or three-year period in which to do so. The FLA carries out an in-depth evaluation of the company's performance at the end of the designated period. In addition to this evaluation, the FLA also issues an annual public report on each participating company each year and publishes charts on its website that report on the monitoring of factories by the FLA's accredited independent external monitors. In accordance with the FLA Charter, the staff and Board evaluate the extent to which a company has:
If the FLA determines that a company's compliance program has substantially fulfilled these requirements, the program receives FLA accreditation. Accredited programs are reviewed for re-accreditation every two years. The FLA retains the right to retract FLA accreditation at any time if it finds that a company is not acting in good faith to uphold its FLA obligations.
How will the consumer know if a company has been accredited?
Information about accredited companies is available on the FLA website (www.fairlabor.org) and will be included in the FLA's third Annual Public Report. Additionally, companies with accredited compliance programs are authorized to use the FLA service mark, Fair Labor Association Accredited Compliance Program.SM
What is the Workplace Code of Conduct?
The FLA Workplace Code of Conduct specifies compliance with forced labor, child labor, harassment, abuse, nondiscrimination, health and safety, freedom of association and collective bargaining, wages and benefits, hours of work, and overtime compensation.
For more information on FLA and its initiatives visit www.fairlabor.org.
