In late 1980 and early 1990 began to anecdotal evidence, from union activists in the U.S. and Europe about supply chains and factories overseas major American and European multinationals. The focus was on low value added such as textiles, footwear and consumer goods, where production was carried out by the actual suppliers. A central goal was the world's leading producer of jeans, Levi Strauss, Nike, but more significantly, the largest in the world of sports shoesCorporate marketing. NGO Global Exchange launched its anti-Nike sweatshop campaign, based on the companies sourcing in China and Indonesia.
Issues included child labor, minimum wages, working hours and benefits. Activists argue that these issues should not deviate too mandatory standards in the West, while Nike has alleged that the various national economic and social conditions dictate different standards worldwide. A good part of the negotiations and stakeholder meetingsled to an acceptable code of conduct generally accepted to work in developing countries for many parties.
An essential part of the process was the use of international guidelines, in particular that part of the ILO, the International Labour Organisation. Also important were two international agreements - the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. A central point of NGOs, trade union activists and representatives made thedeveloping was that workers were adjusted to global standards, were still applied in any case in countries where works have been performed differ materially from those international standards.
Therefore developed voluntary standards of business, which represented a positive incentive, but as responsible for "stick" of society, specific levels of practice in the treatment of employees suppliers. The risk of not complying with these rules has been damaging the reputationleading brands such as Nike, Levi's and the CAP. The SA 8000 is the leading voluntary standard led to questions concerning the welfare of workers. It includes the following topics, among others.
Child labor: No workers under 15 years
Forced Labor: No forced labor
Occupational safety and health systems must be present
The freedom of workers to unionize
No discrimination based on sex, race, religion, etc.
Discipline: No corporal punishment or abuse of workers
Working hours: Comply withlaw in force but no longer than 48 hours per week
Wages: the national law, but also to meet the basic needs of the economic needs of workers
SA 8000 fans now CAP, TNT and other SAI, and reports that by 2008 nearly 1 million workers in 1700 establishments SA 8000 have been achieved. This certification requires investment in the process (about U.S. $ 10,000 for consulting services and certification of farms), but more in Significantly changing working practices such as marketas pay structures. It 'clear from large U.S. and European multinationals that require some suppliers may obtain certification driven.
Other social norms exist, the sector Goodweave on carpets and broader standards such as Fairtrade, which are components in relation to the welfare of workers. These rules often clash with the political and regulatory systems, which in some countries, particularly the trade union organization, the structure of wages and working conditionsHours. One reality is that many developing countries rely on low wage cost structures extremely effective on exports of low value added sectors such as textiles.
But many supporters of SB 8000 report and its principles that improved productivity and higher value contracts with more sophisticated buyers arising from its seat. More important than the opposition unsaid by key governments such as China, many of its principles. China would prefer that their national systemlabor law have priority over global emerging voluntary standards that his company exporting to the United States and Europe. The main stakeholders in the LSI, but are skeptical about the level of enforcement of national labor laws, a fundamental driver for the emergence of a market standard in the first place. At the time of writing, it is understandable that China, through an ad-reaching for his position to make voluntary environmental and social standards.
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