Meaningful Change: Raising the Bar in Supply Chain Workplace Standards

Abstract

An important dialogue is underway regarding the effectiveness and accountability of programs to monitor and correct human rights abuses in the workplace. Initiatives established to address these issues in factories along supply chains include company codes of conduct, workplace standards, industry initiatives, multi-stakeholder initiatives, accreditation programs, and advocacy campaigns for workers' rights. While these initiatives have been undertaken with the intent to identify, verify and remediate workers' rights abuses, current expectations have moved beyond compliance and remediation to aspirations for sustainable change and continuous improvement in supply chain management based on local and international law, established norms and standards, economic and social incentives, improved management systems, and market competitiveness. Despite common goals, many initiatives to catalyze this change in workplace environments have significant differences in structure, participation, governance, and process. Most involve the interests and influence of numerous stakeholders including, but not limited to, workers, labor unions, factory owners and managers (suppliers), NGOs, international organizations (IOs), companies and brands (buyers), local and national governments, and local communities.