ETI Press Release

May 9th 2002 Immediate Release

The Board of the Ethical Trading Initiative has appointed Alan Roberts to the position of Chair of the Board. In a statement today Mr Roberts, who has been Acting Chair since January 2002, said " I am delighted and honoured to be appointed as Chair of ETI's Board". The Ethical Trading Initiative brings business together with trade unions and NGOs in order to define corporate responsibility with respect to the rights of workers in global supply chains. Mr Roberts added "UK consumers want and deserve to know that the products they buy are made by workers whose rights are respected under decent employment conditions. This is a simple request but it poses huge challenges because today's businesses have such complex and international supply chains. ETI will play a lead role in making the concept of ethical sourcing work"

	Alan Roberts Source: ETI Annual Report 1999/2000

Alan Roberts is Group Business Standards Director for Littlewoods Retail Limited with responsibility for the implementation of Littlewoods own corporate code of conduct and has been a Board member of ETI since 1998.

This announcement follows the appointment of Dan Rees as Director of ETI in March this year. Last month, Clare Short, Secretary of State for International Development gave the Government's own endorsement of ETI's future direction by sanctioning a three-year grant of £1.315m to the ETI. On these developments Alan Roberts said "We now have the people, the ideas and the resource, to define good practice and to make it relevant to companies that are committed to working with trade unions and NGOs in order to improve the lives of workers around the world".

 

Notes to Editor:

1. The Ethical Trading Initiative exists to identify and promote good practice in the implementation of corporate codes of labour practice, including monitoring and verification of code provisions. ETI is an alliance of companies, trade unions and non-government organisations committed to working together in order to achieve that aim. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that working conditions of employees, in companies around the world that supply goods to consumers in the UK, meet or exceed international labour standards.
    
2. The ETI Base Code is founded on the principles of the International Labour Organisation Conventions and has become a model on which other codes are based. It includes
   • No forced labour
   • Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining
   • Safe and hygienic working conditions
   • No child labour shall be used
   • Living wages to be paid
   • No excessive working hours
   • No discrimination
   • Regular employment to be provided
   • No harsh or inhumane treatment
   
    
3. The Grant from DFID is a normal accountable grant of £1.315 million over three years.
    
4. For further information about ETI including an up-to-date list of members go to www.ethicaltrade.org
    
5. For an interview with Alan Roberts or other inquiries contact Dan Rees, Director on 0207 404 1463

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