ETI Project Concept Note

China Project

 

1. Purpose of the China Project

• To provide an ethical focus, informed point of reference and forum for learning for ETI members dealing with ethical trading matters in China.
• ETI corporate members source an increasing amount of products from China. Their annual reports demonstrate they are finding significant numbers of breaches of the Base Code and are having difficulty in addressing these, resulting in a significant number of ongoing non-compliances. At the same time ETI NGO and trade union members’ partner organisations and affiliates report ongoing serious human rights violations within workplaces in China. Working together to identify and address these is core to ETI’s strategic aim of furthering learning on achieving effective code implementation and respect for workers’ rights.

 

 

2. Rationale/background for the project

• The China Project was established following a tripartite member’s discussion at the ETI AGM in November 2001, which concluded more serious collective work on China was needed. In March 2002, the China Project Group began to meet. It has met nine times since then to discuss issues with working in China and develop ideas for potential work on China. It has also created an “Induction Document” based upon the experience to date of corporate members in engaging in China. This has received positive feedback for its usefulness for corporate members, especially those new to China and / or ETI.
• The programme of activities and two streams of practical work outlined meet the ‘ETI Selection Criteria for Projects’ in that they have high commitment from members and a high potential for wider impact once learning is shared more widely among members and in China. In accordance with these criteria there is agreement that there is a strong opportunity to improve implementation and observance of the Base Code which corporate member’s experience demonstrates is challenging in China.
• Corporate members of the group are drawn from both the General Merchandise and Food Groups. This means that the work should be able to engage on food products as well as clothing and footwear, electrical items, toys and other hard goods.
• China is experiencing growing exposure to corporate social responsibility and specifically ethical trade. There is growing interest expressed, at least at central government level and in television debates, in attaining international standards. This was raised explicitly in the run up to entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and also, potentially higher profile in terms of public awareness, the hosting of a successful Olympic Games.
• However, corporate member’s experience demonstrates rule of law is patchy. This can mean it is difficult to enforce regulations and law when local structures are open to exploitation or inaction. Working to strengthen those structures may be a more sustainable, if longer, approach to achieving better observance of labour rights.
• A number of corporate members have individually carried out considerable work in China and now seek to leverage the collective force of ETI to increase the impact of their own work.

 

 

3. Learning objectives

• The group has identified four key learning objectives:
  1. Information Provision for members
  2. Raising awareness of the ETI Base Code and the underlying human rights principles (enshrined in the UN ILO Conventions)
  3. Practical Supply Chain Improvements
  4. Developing relationships with Chinese institutions and organisations
      
  Each of these objectives has developed a draft workstream of activities aimed at meeting the groups’ range of ‘learning’ objectives. The intention is to work consecutively on three broad programmes of work; initially building relationships to enable the practical work and then moving into two practical projects the first on health and safety, the second on worker representation / freedom of association. Members will seek to work in both the clothing and textiles, hard goods industries and in food and to juxtapose the learning from these three sectors. It is envisaged that the health and safety project should be used to build relationships. This will aim to create a stronger base to introduce the worker representation / freedom of association project.

 

 

4. Proposed activities

The group has identified the following potential activities within each learning objective:

* Envisaged as an ongoing activity
 

• The China Project Group wants to further develop these project ideas and to consult with members’ partner organisations on how best to construct a draft plan and key steps for each.
• Once these are in place the Group wishes to use them as basis for tripartite consultation with key organisations and individuals in China and Hong Kong on how they may be implemented. This aims to:
  • Seek guidance on the appropriateness and feasibility of the planned activities
  • Identify how local key organisations and individuals could work with the China Project Group.
  • Organise a tri-partite visit seeking tri-partite involvement and guidance
     

Membership of the China Working Group

Membership of the China Project Group comprises.

 

 

7. Next Steps

• Development of more detailed specific project outlines in consultation with key organisations and individuals.
• Discussion and consultation on proposed work with members’ partners and key organisations and individuals.

 

Ends

 

See also:

Activities: Experimental Projects: China Project

Resources: Geographic: Asia