Ethical trade: shaping a new agenda
Briefing Papers from the ETI Conference 2005
Have you ever:
- Found a breach of your company labour code while visiting a supplier, but been unsure about whether or how to raise the issue with the manager?
- Felt frustrated by the lack of co-ordinated action on ethical trade issues between different parts of your company, but felt powerless to change things?
- Been asked by your supplier or boss for concrete evidence of the benefits of ethical trade...and been stuck for an answer?
This series of briefing papers just published by the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) - provides practical guidance on how to tackle these and other typical challenges faced by ethical trade practitioners. Based on presentations and discussion at the ETI international conference in May 2005, these papers:
- Set out a new agenda for ethical trade that goes beyond supply chain auditing. Core to this "new agenda" (which is summarised in Paper No. 6 - see below) is the need to give workers themselves a much stronger voice in the whole process, and the need to integrate ethical sourcing principles into the way that brands, retailers and their suppliers do business.
- Demonstrate how this new agenda can benefit brands and retailers, their suppliers, NGOs and trade union organisations alike.
- Show how corporate leaders are already acting on the new agenda.
- Provide clear guidance on practical steps that companies and other stakeholders can take to deliver on the new agenda.
Key features:
These papers reflect the experience of over 370 ethical trade practitioners from 22 countries, who represent global retailers, brands and their suppliers, southern and international NGOs and trade union organisations, auditing companies, investment fund managers and governments. They offer:
- new insights into cutting edge issues in ethical trade, presented in a unique user-friendly format;
- 29 good practice case studies;
- practical, tailored recommendations for brands and retailers, their suppliers, trade union organisations, NGOs and other key players.
Download:
(Simplified
Chinese - Summary paper)- Comercio ético: dándole forma a una nueva agenda (Spanish - Summary paper)
- English (all six papers).
6.
.
Documentos de instrucciones - español
Esta serie está formada por seis documentos de instrucciones. Documento No.6 proporciona un sumario de los asuntos principales que componen la "nueva agenda" forjada en la conferencia.
6.
Comercio ético: dándole forma a una nueva agenda [PDF, 1.8MB]
(DOCUMENTO SUMARIAL).
La cuarta conferencia bienal de la ETI, exitosamente, le
dio forma a una nueva agenda para el comercio ético. Pero, ¿qué
compone esta nueva agenda y quién la practica? ¿Quién
se beneficia? ¿Quién necesita involucrarse y qué
deben hacer? Y, ¿es realmente factible? Este documento sumarial
proporciona las respuestas a todas estas preguntas.
The briefing papers
There are six papers in the series. Paper No.6 provides a summaryof the issues that make up the new agenda for ethical trade. Papers 1 to 5 provide detailed guidance on how to address the key issues on the agenda.
To download now, click on the cover image or title below:
1.
Quick fix or lasting solution? Dealing responsibly with typical non-compliances.
[PDF, 1.6MB]
Company audits often identify labour issues that appear to have simple
solutions, but a 'quick fix' that treats the symptom may fail to address
the underlying causes of non-compliance. And, without digging down to
the root of the problem, you are unlikely to find lasting solutions that
really benefit workers. This paper provides corporate compliance staff
and other auditors with guidance on how to find lasting solutions to three
typical non-compliances.
2.
Finding common ground: Working with trade unions in supplier countries
[PDF, 1.1MB]
Most retailers and brands who have otherwise made significant progress
in addressing supply chain labour conditions still remain reluctant to
work with trade union organisations and have had very limited success
in persuading their suppliers to do so. This paper sets out to highlight
the potential benefits of more effective engagements with unions, and
to provide practical guidance to retailers / brands, suppliers and
trade union organisations on how to build and make the most of such partnerships.
3.
Managing compliance with labour codes at supplier level: A more sustainable
way of improving workers' conditions? [PDF, 830kb]
It is increasingly recognised that lasting, sustainable improvements to
workers' conditions can only be achieved if suppliers take ownership of
the process of change. Developing local management systems can bring lasting
solutions, with potential benefits for brands and retailers, suppliers
and workers alike. This paper, drawing on the experiences of two very
different companies, looks at some of the benefits and challenges of developing
supplier-level code management systems and provides some practical tips
on involving workers.
4.
Moving production: Stalling the race to the bottom. [PDF, 911kb]
In today's globalised economy, companies that outsource can relatively
easily shift suppliers to ever-cheaper sources, which can bring benefits
to consumers if cost savings are passed on... but what are the effects
on workers? This paper looks at the issues and shows that companies can
take measures that help protect their business interests as well as those
of workers. (Although focus is on textiles and garments, debate &
potential solutions are relevant to other labour-intensive industries.)
5. Bridging the gap between commercial
and ethical trade agendas:
Pioneering approaches to purchasing practices [PDF, 1.5MB]
Many aspects of brands' and retailers' purchasing practices can contribute
to poor labour conditions in their supply chains. Trade unions and NGOs
have drawn attention to this for some time. What is new is that leading
companies have acknowledged this and have publicly taken steps towards
revising their buying practices accordingly. Drawing on the experiences
of these pioneering companies, this paper aims to provide practical support
to corporate ethical trade managers - arguments, ideas and practical tips
that can help make integration of ethical considerations into buying practices
a reality.
6.
Ethical trade: shaping a new agenda [PDF, 1.4MB]
(SUMMARY PAPER).
ETI's fourth biennial conference successfully shaped a new
agenda for ethical trade. But what makes up this new agenda, and who has
bought into it? Who stands to benefit? Who needs to be involved and what
do they need to do? And is it really do-able? This paper provides a summary
of the main issues - the other five provide a more detailed explanation
of each of the issues on the agenda.
Notes:
- The above descriptions are taken from the ETI Conference 2005 pages, where you will also find further details of the conference and multimedia downloads of presentations.
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