Our experience pioneering a new approach: homework, child labour and multi- stakeholder solutions...
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Transcript of Our experience pioneering a new approach: homework, child labour and multi- stakeholder solutions...
Our experience pioneering a new
approach:
homework, child labour and multi-
stakeholder solutions
Liz KirkHead of Projects, ETI Give Children a Chance Conference, Copenhagen, 12 Dec 2006
What is the Ethical Trading Initiative?
ETI is a tripartite alliance of companies, NGOs
and trade unions committed to working together
to identify, promote and implement good labour
practice.
section
aAbout ETI
Who are our members
• 39 corporate members (retailers/suppliers)Combined turnover of £100 billion+ on textiles, clothing, homewares, food and electronics
• 16 NGO members Plus partner organisations
• 3 international trade union secretariatsUK TUC and affiliate networks
section
aAbout ETI
Non-governmental organisations
• Africa Now
• Anti-Slavery International
• Care International UK
• CAFOD
• Central American Women’s Network
• Christian Aid
• Fairtrade Foundation
• Homeworkers Worldwide
• National Group on Homeworking
• Oxfam
• Quaker Peace & Social Witness
• Save the Children
• Traidcraft Exchange
• TWIN
• Women Working Worldwide
• Women in the Informal Economy Globalising & Organising (WIEGO)
section
aAbout ETI
ETI’s Base Code
• Employment is freely chosen
• Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining
• Working conditions are safe and hygienic
• Child labour shall not be used
• Living wages are paid
• Working hours are not excessive
• No discrimination is practised
• Regular employment is provided
• No harsh or inhumane treatment
section
aAbout ETI
Specifically, on child labour:
• There shall be no new recruitment of child labour
• Companies shall develop or participate in and contribute to policies and programmes which provide for the transition of any child…to education
• Children and young persons under 18 shall not be employed at night or in hazardous conditions
section
bchild labour & companies
Shifting attitudes
• Mid 90s - child labour as the lens through which companies engage on labour rights
• Danger level attached to this issue means a zero tolerance approach often taken
• Last 1 - 2 years, seen a more responsible approach emerging
section
bchild labour & companies
The ‘disincentives’ to responsibility:
section
bchild labour & companies
How to change the climate?
• Need to educate the media & consumer
• NGO community to start rewarding risk-takers
• Build up the business case
section
bchild labour & companies
A new approach:homework, child labour & multi-stakeholder solutions
• ETI homeworker guidelines - a generic practical document for all players in global supply chains
• Product of 4 years of work in UK & India between 2 m-s groups
• first ever attempt to promote and guide responsible corporate practice in the area of homeworking.
section
cETI’s experience
Homeworker supply chains:
Simple Complex
(Agent)
HW
Exporter
Retailer
HW
Contractor
Exporter
(Agent)
Retailer
HW
Sub-sub-contractor
Sub-contractor
Contractor
Exporter
(Agent)
Retailer
section
cETI’s experience
Guidelines...
• they reflect our members´ collective experience that the entire industry - not just retailers but also suppliers, TUs and NGOs - must play a part in improving the conditions of these workers.
• Relevant to you because homeworking is likely to involve child labour
section
cETI’s experience
Structure & contents of the GLs
• Overview of homeworking & examples of responses to HW globally
• Principles: individual v.s collaborative action
• Chapter for retailers, chapter for suppliers
• Chapter for TUs and NGOs
• Toolkit
section
cETI’s experience
In India: setting up multi-stakeholder agencies to implement• Now, converted to a multi-stakeholder agency, to oversee
implementation in other local areas of collaborative
actions in the guidelines.
• Motivated by conviction will be more effective implementing
these collectively,.
• Gap, Monsoon, Next, their exporters (Aesthetics, Nandeetas,
Chelsea Mills), HMS, SEWA, CEC
• Will oversee set-up of regional implementing agencies.
The National Group and the Bareilly Group
National Homework GroupOversees Bareilly Group set-up Monitors actions of members & BHG Refines GLs Identifies next area for Regional HG
Bareilly Homework Group
•State & industry specific (Uttar Pradesh fabric embellishment industry)
•Implementing ‘joint’ actions (e.g.welfare fund set-up)
•May become permanent
•Multi-partite: brings in state gov (labour dep.)
•Set-up now beginning
The Bareilly Homeworkers Group (BHG)
• Set up in September 2006
• Membership - Eight contractors, One NGO
• Extensive research into HWs issues and suggestions...
Possible labour issues & solutions HWs were consulted on in Bareilly:
IRREGULAR WORK
LOW PIECE RATES
PAYMENT SYSTEMS
HEALTH & SAFETY
BARGAINING POWER
SOCIAL SECURITY
CHILD HOMEWORKERSHHOMEWORKERS
EDUCATION
INSURANCE
SAVINGS & CREDIT SCHEMES(SHGs)
HEALTH & SAFETY TRAINING
QUALITY TRAINING
PRODUCTIVITY TRAINING
SKILL DIVERSIFICATIONTRAINING
RECORD KEEPING TRAINING
…and homeworkers’ priorities:
OVERALL REACTIONS OPTIONS
Extremely Beneficial 1.0 Education2.0 Insurance3.0 Record Keeping Training
Very Beneficial o Skill Diversification Trainingo Savings & Credit Schemes
Beneficial Quality Training Health & Safety Training
Not Very Beneficial Productivity Training
Next steps for BHG
• Linking with NCLP schools
• HWs training on H&S, quality and record keeping
• Social insurance
• Future strategy
Lessons:
• Collaboration in complex supply chains works best
• Companies NEED assistance of non-profit groups to reach this group
• Children’s education was workers’ No 1 priority: - use collective weight of group on gov
• Child labour best dealt with through a multi-stakeholder approach
Ethical Trading Initiative
Cromwell House14 Fulwood PlaceLondon WC1V 6HZUnited Kingdom
t +44 (0) 20 7404 1463f +44 (0) 20 7831 [email protected]
UK Homeworker group members at 06:
Body Shop International CommunityBoots Trade Union CongressGap IncMadison Hosiery Homeworkers WorldwideMonsoon / Accessorize National Group on HomeworkingNext plc Oxfam GBSainsburys Supermarkets Traidcraft
WIEGO