REPORTS ON THE ETI IMPACT ASSESSMENT 2006
The ETI code of labour practice: Do workers really benefit?

About this report

This report provides a more detailed account of the findings and recommendations from the India (garments) case study, one of five in-depth case studies carried out as part of the ETI Impact Assessment. It will be relevant to at all those involved in monitoring and improving labour conditions in the export garment sector in India, including retailers and brands, agents and suppliers, auditors, NGOs and trade unions.

The report provides:

• An overview of the scope of the case study and how it was conducted
• Relevant background information on the Indian garment industry
• An account of the impacts of codes in garment factories in India, and of the key labour issues that remain to be addressed
• A description of the code implementation activities undertaken by buying companies and suppliers
• Recommendations on how to improve the impact of codes in the Indian garment industry.

 

 

Detailed contents

• Contents
• Foreword

• 1 Introduction
  • 1.1 Rationale for this case study
  • 1.2 Who was involved in the study
  • 1.3 Types of value chains studied
  • 1.4 Research methods
  • 1.5 Worker sample
  • 1.6 Limitations
• 2 Background on the Indian garment industry
  • 2.1 Size of sector and recent trends
  • 2.2 Type and number of workers
  • 2.3 Labour law
• 3 Key impacts found
  • 3.1 Summary of impacts by Base Code principle
  • 3.2 Impact by Base Code principle
    • 3.2.1 Employment is freely chosen
    • 3.2.2 Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining
    • 3.2.3 Health and safety
    • 3.2.4 Child labour shall not be used
    • 3.2.5 Living wages to be paid
    • 3.2.6 Working hours are not excessive
    • 3.2.7 No discrimination is practised
    • 3.2.8 Regular employment is provided
    • 3.2.9 No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed
  • 3.3 Other worksite impacts
  • 3.4 Key issues remaining
    • 3.4.1 Freedom of association and right to collective bargaining
    • 3.4.2 Living wage is paid
    • 3.4.3 Working hours are not excessive
    • 3.4.4 No discrimination is practiced
    • 3.4.5 Regular employment is provided
    • 3.4.6 No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed
  • 3.5 Impacts by type of worker
    • 3.5.1 Impacts by employment status
    • 3.5.2 Impacts by gender/ethnicity
  • 3.6 Household and community impacts
  • 3.7 Wider impacts
    • 3.7.1 Poverty impacts
• 4 Management approaches to code implementation
  • 4.1 Communication
  • 4.2 Monitoring
  • 4.3 Capacity building
  • 4.4 Integration with core business
• 5 Recommendations
  • 5.1 Recommendations for buying companies, auditors and labour code initiatives
  • 5.2 Recommendations for suppliers

 

 

Downloads

Download PART 2a (India) in PDF format [PDF, 540kb]

Clickable list of all reports in this series.

 

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This series of reports has been prepared by the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) and the views expressed do not necesarily represent the views of ETI or of its member organisations. IDS is responsible for the accuracy of information contained in the document and its recommendations have not necessarily been endorsed by ETI.

© Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, 2006

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See also:

A preliminary response by the Ethical Trading Initiative to IDS’ study (19 October 2006)

ETI Activities: Research projects: Impact assessment

ETI Activities: Experimental projects: Homeworkers

ETI Events: Conferences: Biennial conference 2005: Workshop - Assessing our impact