Fair Wear Foundation

The Fair Wear Foundation ( FWF short, English: "Organization for fair clothing " ) is an association of different actors, which has the improvement of working conditions in the garment and textile industry to the destination. The Foundation verifies that the joined companies implement the guidelines of the FWF in their production. The organization, founded in 1999, 2010, more than 50 companies as members, coming from all over Europe. The organization is active in producing countries such as Bangladesh, China, India and Turkey.

• 5.1 Check on site
• 5.2 Complaints Management
• 5.3 Review of the organizational structure of the members

Management and realization of the independence

In order to preserve the independence as a certification organization, the FWF has a tripartite organizational structure. The Board consists of a body, which is formed in addition to the independent chairman of representatives of the following four categories: 1) trade association of the apparel producer, 2 ) Industry Association of clothing dealer, 3 ) unions and 4) non-governmental organizations. Each of the representatives has equal voting rights.

The Panel is powered by a committee of experts of various stakeholders and interest groups in each country where the FWF is active with information. She also has interest in European countries, work out the regulations governing the organization and propose (eg in Switzerland, Germany and Belgium).

Ellen Dekkers, Secretary-General of the Dutch Federation of Trade Unions, on the organization: "Each aspect of the FWF system supports the others. For example, FWF 's ongoing multi-stakeholder collaboration in Both producer and consumer countries Has really improved FWF 's verification processes. "

Translation: Every aspect of the FWF supports the other. For example, the continuing cooperation of stakeholders in producer and consumer countries has improved the certification processes of the FWF prevail.

Code of labor practices and workers' rights

The Code of the Organisation for work practices and the rights of workers includes eight points, which are based on the conventions of the International Labour Organization and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The statutes of the FWF are known for the strict provisions on freedom of association, working time limits and to pay a living wage.

• Limitation of working hours
• Free choice of employment
• No exploitative child labor
• No discrimination in employment
• Legally binding contract
• Safe and healthy working conditions
• Freedom of assembly and the right to collective bargaining
• Payment of a living wage

Responsibility for the entire supply chain

The Fair Wear Foundation also takes responsibility for the supply up. So each member of the supply chain is the view of the organization ( co-) responsible for the conditions under which the product has been manufactured. A brand that sells clothes in Europe, according to the conception of organization for the working conditions in the production (including eg for plantations) and for the environmental aspect of the product in part responsible. In recent years, the responsibility has been increasingly considered in relation to the supply chain, both by individual companies as well as by the fashion world as a whole.

Business

Garment and Textile Industry

The organization restricts its business to those production phases in which sewing makes up the largest part of the production. Thus, the organization hopes to be able to bring about the greatest possible impact for the workers. This is the most labor-intensive stage of production process and the phase in which there are many problems in working conditions. Effective countermeasures can affect the lives of millions of workers here.

Geographical extent

Be certified companies in Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, India, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey and Vietnam (as of 2012).

Certification contents

Spot check

The organization shall verify compliance with their local conditions. For this purpose, it is preferably together groups of members of different organizations, with different specializations. These groups consist of members of the "local partner networks" (English: local partner networks ), the FWF has been established in different countries.

For manufacturing companies, it is a process that leads to improvements at work ( ie not a pure test group). Retail companies and shops the visits serve as a guarantee that the manufacturers constantly strive to meet their obligations to the FWF.

Complaints management

The organization has a complaints mechanism for workers and outsiders, which is to uncover problems in the supply chain of a FWF member. The method serves as a safety net. The organization employs to handling people in the countries where it is active. This allows workers who are employed by FWF Mitglieden to denounce in a safe and appropriate manner violations of established standards, so that they are fixed.

Review of the organizational structure of the members

When a company joins the organization, she also agrees to comply with the code of the organization for the rights of workers in its supply chain. This means not only that needs to be worked directly with the factories to improve conditions there, but also that internal systems must be built that lead there to decent working conditions. The organization annually visited their members to check these systems and their efficiency.

Transparency

In order to take full responsibility of the supply chain transparency is needed in three main categories: at work, in business and in the organization. The Fair Wear Foundation makes total data publicly available verification audits. The organization provides performance assessments of the respective brands that assess the organizational structures of each member and the performance to achieve the requirements of the organization. The reports available on the internet. The organization informs local stakeholders on developments in the organization, when they concern. It also establishes Strategy Papers and other research openly and publish an annual report. The organization publishes reports on complaints from outsiders.

Cooperation

The organization works with a range of stakeholders and other organizations to develop a sustainable system with good working conditions. Thus, the organization plays an active role in the convening of the Jo- In-deck, the chairman of the leading international ethics initiatives gathered (eg, the Clean Clothes Campaign, the Ethical Trading Initiative, the Fair Labor Association, Social Accountability International (English: social responsibility, international) and the Worker Rights Consortium). This aims to bring the workers' rights around the world and for the better implementation eg work of a secure livelihood compensation and a working time limit.

The Fair Wear Foundation has formed inter alia with the following organizations working groups: Fairtrade International ( FLO), UN Women (UN Women ) and the European Outdoor Group. Such joint projects should lead to a convergence and / or provide greater and more sustainable results in the implementation of workers' rights.

Industry relationships / dialogue on social

" FWF realises good labor conditions by:. Stimulating sound industrial relations worldwide and, wherever possible, harmon ising policies and methods" ( from the mission statement of FWF)

(English: The FWF provides good working conditions by encouraging stable relationships with industry worldwide, and wherever possible, strategies and methods orchestrates. )

The ultimate goal of the organization is to abzuleisten his own work decently. Thus, the improvement of working conditions is sustainable, strict laws and their implementation, a well-functioning labor inspectorate, a strong representation of employees ( job-related non-governmental organizations, trade unions ) and a constructive local, national and international cooperation are needed.

The Wage Ladder

The organization has publicly available FWF Wage Ladder ( Einkommesleiter ) introduced in November 2011, to make progress in the secure livelihood wages for employees in the garment and other industries, a newly developed online tool that helps brands, factories and social organizations in. Based on a concept that has been developed by Rutledge Tufts as part of the Jo- In Project, it allows the Einkommesleiter, wages paid by each company to compare with a selection of relevant benchmarks that of NGOs, social organizations, trade associations and government agencies have been created. The Einkommesleiter visually represents how high the wages paid in the various departments of a company compared to these benchmarks. This provides a basis for negotiations on a company wide collective agreement. The organization has the tool made ​​publicly available in order to support better wages in the textile industry and beyond.

Beige Attempted Company

Are entitled to active membership in the European market companies - including producers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers. Clothing and textile manufacturers can also join the organization, provided that they produce in a country in which the organization operates. The organization has about 75 companies as members, more than 100 brands offer (as of 2012). The work of the organization affects more than 500,000 workers in the supply chain of members.

During the Fashion Week in January 2012 in Amsterdam, the organization moved 6 km of red bands between 80 shops in Amsterdam as part of the Red Ribbon Campaign (English: Red Ribbons Campaign). This should draw the attention of consumers to companies who work through their membership in the organization working to improve the working conditions of their production or supply chain.

Sources of revenue

Between 2000 and 2008, the financing of the organization was fairly evenly divided (17 to 22%) on the following sources: membership fees from companies, trade unions, NGOs, governments and business associations. Financial support came from certain Social Fund that have arisen as a result of industry-specific collective bargaining ( in the areas of apparel and retail sector. ) The organization has also some support from the European Union and donors such as the UN Women will receive.

History

The organization was founded in 1999 after nearly five years of negotiations between different stakeholders. In the Netherlands, at the time the clothing production has moved to low- wage countries, as was common in other countries. After a few years with campaigns against poor working conditions in low-wage countries of the FNV (Dutch Trade Union Confederation) and the Clean Clothes Campaign, employers' organizations have contacted and pursued a joint initiative for improved working conditions in the clothing sector.

The founders created the Code of Labour Practices and Workers' Rights ( the Code of Labour Practices) in the clothing industry. This one has international standards taken as a basis, which are expressed in the conventions of the International Labour Organisation. The model standards of the Clean Clothes Campaign and the ICFTU were present indicative. ( The ICFTU is the international umbrella organization of unions belonging to the FNV. )

In the period from 1999 to 2002, the organization has pilot projects carried out in the implementation of the Code of Labour practices with four Dutch companies. These experiences were the basis for the detention of a standard procedure.

The next step was the construction of memberships. It was publicly announced in March 2003 that a first group of 11 members exists. The companies were to a fashion producers and other manufacturers of industrial workwear. In 2012 there were about 88 members.