Sharing lessons from the ILO/DFID 'Work in Freedom' programme in South Asia's garment and footwear sector.

As part of two days of discussions, the OECD’s annual garment trade forum debated recent progress in the commercially sensitive area of purchasing practices.

It’s been one year since ETI joined forces with the ILO to deliver SCORE Training to 17 Chinese factories which supply products to eight ETI member brands.

In 2017, over 40% of workers were estimated to be in vulnerable forms of employment. The ILO predicts that this will increase, particularly in emerging economies.

Through our participation, we hope to promote some of the good practice of our members. But we will also highlight that much more still needs to be done to improve working conditions in global supply chains.

In this introduction to our 20th Anniversary series of opinion pieces, The Leadership Series, ETI's Chair Philip Chamberlain reflects on some of the business and human rights issues that will be a key part of the ethical trade agenda in 2018 and beyond.

SMEs get government-subsidised consultancy to advance ethical trade & human rights work. The challenges and opportunities that small businesses face in getting to grips with the business and human rights agenda.

The government will continue to rely heavily on voluntary principles, guidance and codes of conduct, the promotion of good practice, and an expectation that the private sector will itself do more to ensure respect for labour rights in its supply chains.

ETI’s Executive Director, Peter McAllister said that reported cuts, particularly to orders that have already been agreed, are “totally unacceptable within responsible business practice”.