The Central Role of Workers’ Rights in Brand Accountability

In the fashion industry, workers’ rights are a critical measure of a brand’s commitment to ethical practices. Brands are increasingly evaluated on their policies and practices related to child labour, living wages, and gender equality. However, despite these evaluations, many brands still fall short in ensuring fair treatment and adequate compensation for their workers, particularly in their supply chains. 

Brands that prioritize these rights demonstrate a commitment to social responsibility and ethical practices. Assessing these policies is essential for holding brands accountable and encouraging improvements in their operations. 

Many brands have implemented social auditing programs to monitor and improve labour conditions within their supply chains. One such program is accredited by the Fair Labor Association (FLA), which covers the entire final production stage of a brand’s operations. These audits are designed to identify and address issues such as unfair wages, poor working conditions, and human rights violations. 

The Fashion Transparency Index is another tool used to assess brands’ transparency and performance in social and environmental sustainability. Brands are scored based on their disclosure of policies, practices, and impacts, including how they address workers’ rights. High scores on the Fashion Transparency Index indicate a brand’s commitment to transparency and continuous improvement. For the first time, two brands scored 80% or higher. 

Workers’ rights are a fundamental aspect of brand accountability and ethical practice. While social auditing programs and transparency indexes provide valuable insights into a brand’s performance, there is still much work to be done. Brands must move beyond mere claims and implement effective measures to ensure living wages and protect human rights throughout their supply chains. By doing so, they can uphold their social responsibilities and contribute to a fairer, more equitable industry. 

How the CleanChain Action Module Supports Brands’ Commitment to Ethical Practices 

The Action Module offers a comprehensive suite of functionalities designed to streamline assessment processes, enhance supply chain management, and promote continuous improvement. Here’s how the Action Module can assist brands in upholding their ethical commitments:  

Supply Chain Management Technology:  Supply Chain Management Technology facilitates seamless information exchange between supply chain partners and customers. This technology generates detailed, data-rich supply chain reports while maintaining confidentiality and managing complexity effectively. Brands can gain comprehensive insights into their supply chains, identify potential issues, and ensure transparency and accountability. 

Promote Improvement:  The Action Module helps brands save hours spent on version tracking, email coordination, and minimizing human errors.  The module allows users to track progress and ensure timely responses to issues. 

Aggregate and Report:  The reports feature provides detailed insights and high-level executive summaries, making reporting comprehensive and efficient. Brands can use these reports to understand their supply chain performance better, and make informed decisions to drive further improvements. 

Get in touch for a demo cleanchaininfo@adec-innovations.com 

Flemming Laursen, Head of Sales, CleanChain

Flemming Laursen, is an expert in the maximization of profit for companies through the use of ESG tools, data technology and impact sourcing. He was an entrepreneur and worked as director of sales for multiple businesses prior to joining ADEC Innovations.