ethical sourcing
Ethical sourcing is vital for all companies to maintain as it makes sure there is a good labour standard that is maintained at all times throughout the manufacturing of products. The business ethics are rules of conduct, pattern behaviour in business and ethically doing the correct thing. This includes critical policies like making sure that everyone who was involved I the making of the product gets paid a fair wage, as well as the working conditions are safe and hygienic.
With most clothing brands you find that they are found out to be underpaying or using children to make clothing in factories abroad. You will be surprised to find out it includes big brands such as M&S, PRIMARK and H&M.
Being ethical allows the brand to have a strong selling market. If you are being transparent with your brand and showing your business happenings it helps to build trust in your brand. However, finding ethical suppliers and having to set strict rules alongside your code of conduct can be time consuming for a supplier that is willing to agree, this can be rather costly in both ways. It is costly to get a supplier who will abide by the rules set but also having to pay a consistent wage and maintain hygiene can also be costly having an effect on the final price of the product that may have to increase in price to cover all costs.
The ETI Base Code is in place for all employers to follow. There are 9 codes of the ETI Base Code that are for the workers benefits.
1. Employment is freely chosen. This is so there is no forced employment or involuntary prison labour.
2. Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining are respected. Employers have to allow and have an open attitude to workers joining or forming a trade union of their own. The worker’s representatives should not be discriminated against, and have their own right to carrying out their representative functions in the workplace.
3. Working conditions are safe and hygienic. A safe and hygienic working environment needs to be provided at all times. This is to prevent accidents and injuries from occurring. In order to maintain a healthy environment, clean toilet facilities need to be provided with sanitary facilities. As well as clean water and food storage should be provided.
4. Child labour shall not be used. This is a code of conduct that is vital for companies to remember. There shall be no new recruitment of child labour. In the code of conduct it specifically states “Companies shall develop or participate in and contribute to policies and programmes which provide for the transition of any child to be found performing child labour to enable him/her to attend and remain in quality education until no longer a child.” It also follows to say that children under 18 cannot be employed at night.
5. Living wages are paid. For employers this means for someone working a standard week that the wages and benefits paid for that week have to meet the national leg standards. It should be able to meet the basic needs.
6. Working hours are not excessive The working hours provided have to comply with national laws.
7. No discrimination is practised. Employers cannot discriminate when hiring.
8. Regular employment is provided.
9. No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed. No physical abuse, threat of abuse or sexual abuse or verbal abuse is tolerated.
The Rana Plaza collapsed in 2013 which ended up killing a total of 1,135 people and was named the country’s worst industrial disaster. The building was on the outside of Dhaka and was the world’s second largest exporter of ready-made garments. It had duty free access to the western markets and paid low wages to the workers which helped turn Bangladesh’s garment exports into a $28 billion a year industry. Factories don’t just collapse every day. It was known that Rana Plaza needed safety checks but they weren’t carried out regularly or taken seriously when they should have been. It clearly states in the ETI Base Code that worker’s need to be in a safe healthy environment which the Rana Plaza workers clearly weren’t.
Also I think it is outrageous that they are paid low wages and potentially lower than minimum wage pays, just to allow the industry to grow bigger and bigger. I highly doubt that the wages they are being paid are able to cover even the basic needs of food let alone living costs.