We have helped develop a system for monitoring and improving labor practices in the apparel and footwear industries by leading efforts to establish and participate in the Fair Labor Association (FLA).
FLA member companies agree to monitor – themselves or through external assessors – the labor rights conditions for all factories composing their supply chain.
In the case of violations, the FLA offers various tools to find solutions and has developed a grievance mechanism that allows workers to lodge complaints.
The FLA has become a model for the type of initiative that can address labor rights when regulatory mechanisms are absent or the political structure is unable or unwilling to protect workers’ rights.
As companies in a variety of industries face increased pressure to confront these types of issues, multi-stakeholder initiatives modeled on the FLA can offer an innovative path forward.