Ethical Trading Initiative
The Ethical Trading Initiative (www.ethicaltrade.org) is a ground-breaking alliance of companies, trade unions, charities and campaigning organisations that work together to improve working conditions in global supply chains. Since our inception in 1998, we have disseminated a raft of best practice tools and guidance on ethical trade, galvanised industry-wide alliances that have brought about widespread change for workers, and have demonstrated that our members’ activities are bringing material benefits to the workers in their supply chains. Last year, member companies reported over 50,000 separate improvements to workers’ conditions, collectively touching the lives of over 6 million workers.
Tens of millions of people around the world work in factories, packhouses and on farms to produce shoes, toys, electrical goods, food and other products destined for sale in wealthy countries in the West. Many of them work in hazardous conditions, often for pay that barely covers their needs. They may also be discriminated against, harassed and prevented from joining or forming trade unions.
Ethical trade involves sourcing companies – retailers and brands – taking responsibility for these workers, and striving to improve their conditions progressively. We believe the first step they should take is to adopt a code of labour practice and require that their suppliers comply with it. The ETI Base Code is widely accepted as a model code of practice, as it incorporates the relevant conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) that sets international labour standards.
Principles included in the ETI Base Code
- No-one should be forced to work
- Workers should be able to join and form trade unions
- Working conditions should be safe and healthy
- Child labour shall not be used
- Working hours should not be excessive
- Wages should be enough to live on and provide some discretionary income
- Workers should be treated equally, regardless of their sex, ethnic group, religion or political opinions
- Where possible, workers should be provided with regular employment
- Workers should not be verbally, physically or sexually abused or disciplined
Want to do the right thing ethically? – then call Jordan Business Systems today and find out how you can play your part
