ETI Press Releases & Bulletins - 2006
Some press releases are posted as an extract page, with the full document available to download as a PDF file; others include links to PDF information sheets. Please contact ETI should you have any problems downloading or reading them, and we can send you them in an alternative format.
2006
20 December - Suspension
of Levi Strauss & Co. from ETI membership
With regret, we announce that the ETI Board has suspended Levi Strauss & Co.
(LS&Co.) from membership. This decision was taken by the ETI Board
on 7 December in a Disciplinary Hearing following LS&Co.’s refusal
to adopt the ‘Living Wage’ provision of the ETI Base Code...
8 December - ‘Joined up’ approach
needed in Bangladesh
Dan Rees today called for a ‘joined up’ approach to resolving
poor working conditions in Bangladesh. He said on Radio5 Live’s ‘Wake
up to Money’ programme, “War on Want
has raised serious allegations, which we have advised our member companies
to promptly investigate. The more information War on Want can provide them
to do so, the better...
19 October - Ten years of ethical
trade brings benefits to workers – but more needed
A decade after sweatshop scandals first prompted global brands to adopt
codes of conduct to improve the conditions of workers in their supply chains,
the most comprehensive study to date of the impact of voluntary codes released
today reveals that members of the Ethical Trading Initiative, which include
Gap Inc., Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s, have achieved concrete
improvements to workers’ conditions.
Also:
- Info sheet - ETI and our members in action – good practice examples [PDF, 168kb]
- A preliminary response by the Ethical Trading Initiative to IDS’ study
19 October - Global
brands not solely responsible for workers’ rights
Dan Rees, Director of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), stated yesterday
at a conference of nearly 200 ethical trade practitioners in London that
companies implementing ethical trade strategies face an even bigger challenge
today than they did a decade ago. But he urged all involved in ethical trade
to...
8 June - Bangladesh Garment
Protests a “Wake Up Call”
Recent violent protests by Bangladesh garment workers are a wake up call
for all those involved in the Bangladeshi ready-made garment industry to
address shockingly low pay and poor working conditions, said a delegation
from the Ethical Trading Initiative.
1 June - Ethical Trading Initiative
to Lead Urgent Fact-Finding Mission to Bangladesh
The Ethical Trading Initiative is to lead an urgent delegation to Bangladesh
next week (4-6 June) in an attempt to establish the underlying causes of
several days of violent protest by garment workers across the industry at
the end of May.
26 May - Primark joins Ethical
Trading Initiative
Leading retailer Primark today joined the Ethical Trading Initiative, an
alliance including retailers, trade unions and non-governmental organisations
that aims to promote respect for the rights of poor workers in factories
and farms worldwide.
10 May - Statement on Situation
at Fortune Garments, Cambodia
During 2005/06, allegations of poor labour practices at Fortune Garments
have been the subject of disagreement between Ethical Trading Initiative
(ETI) trade union and corporate members, their suppliers and labour rights
campaign groups. These issues have featured in newspaper articles.
5 May - Statement on Somerfield
resignation from ETI.
We regret to announce that Somerfield Stores have chosen not to renew their
membership of the Ethical Trading Initiative which expired in March 2006.
Somerfield resigned from ETI in January 2006.
13 March - Food industry must
act now to prepare for gangmaster licensing.
ETI has welcomed the news that the Government has today (Monday
13th March 2006) announced that the new gangmaster licensing regime –
the Gangmasters Licensing Act - will apply to the provision of labour across
the entire food sector and urges the industry to act now to prepare for
licensing.
15 February - ETI/DFID
- First Day at Ethical Trading School for UK Firms.
Trainees from top UK firms go back to school today to learn about how ethical
trading can help transform their business and improve workers’ conditions
in their supply chains, on a new and first of its kind training course run
by the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) and backed by the Department
for International Development (DFID).
February - Bulletin: Food industry
united on second anniversary of Morecambe Bay.
Leading UK food retailers (including Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and
Waitrose) have joined forces with trade unions, labour providers and farmers
to urge the Prime Minister to ensure immediate and comprehensive implementation
of a new law aimed at preventing abuse of an estimated 600,000 temporary
workers.