Facts about Ethical Trading Initiative

ETI Press Room - Information Sheet

• The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) was established in 1998 to improve the lives of workers and their families in global supply chains. We believe that companies producing, supplying and selling goods for consumer markets should observe national and international labour laws. Our purpose is to identify and promote responsible corporate practice that will help make this a reality.
• ETI focuses on developing practical solutions to ethical trade that deliver concrete benefits for workers. Our tripartite membership of companies, trade unions and NGOs lends unique credibility to our work.
• ETI has 40 Corporate members:¹ Adolfo Dominguez, Asda, Associated British Foods (Primark), Boots, Chiquita Brands International, Co-operative Retail, DCC Corporate Clothing, Debenhams Retail, Dewhirst Group, Ethical Tea Partnership, Flamingo Holdings, Fyffes Group, Gap Inc, Greencell, Inditex, London Underground, Madison Hosiery, Marks and Spencer, Marshalls, Monsoon Accessorize, Mothercare, New Look Retailers, Next Retail, Pentland Group, Premier Foods, Quantum Clothing Group, Ringtons, Rohan Designs, Rombouts, Sainsbury's, Supremia, Tesco, The Body Shop International, Typhoo Tea, Union Coffee Roasters, WH Smith, WIBEDCO, William Lamb Footwear and World Flowers.
• Non-governmental and trade union members Cafod, Christian Aid, Oxfam, Save the Children, Anti-Slavery International, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation (ITGLWF), the International Union of Food Workers (IUF) and the Trades Union Congress
• When corporate members join ETI they commit to adopting the ETI Base Code on a progressive basis throughout their supply chains. The Code is based on ILO conventions and as such is widely acknowledged as a model code of labour practice. It contains provisions based on the following principles:
• Employment is freely chosen
• Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining and respected
• Working conditions are safe and hygienic
• Child labour shall not be used
• Living wages are paid
• Working hours are not excessive
• No discrimination is practised
• Regular employment is provided
• No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed.
• Company members report annually to ETI on the progress they are making in implementing the Base Code. Their reports are a vital means of gathering intelligence on the progress of individual members and the membership as a whole, enabling ETI to identify key issues and trends over time.
• All members participate in ETI ‘experimental projects’ which provide a means for corporate, trade union and NGO members alike to learn together and to share that learning with others so they can incorporate the lessons into their own activities.

¹ As at May 2007