Comparison of Codes: ETI Base Code; SA8000; GSCP Comparison of Codes: Reference ETI Base Code, SA8000 & GSCP SEDEX CODE COMPARISON – Introduction to the Codes ETI – Ethical Trade Initiative: The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) is a ground-breaking alliance of companies, trade unions and voluntary organisations which promotes the implementation of corporate codes of practice which cover supply chain working conditions. Their ultimate goal is to ensure that the working conditions of workers producing for the UK market meet or exceed international labour standards. The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) produces guidelines aimed at the promotion and the improvement of ethical trade. The code of conduct has been elaborated in the UK by an alliance of companies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and trade union organisations. It is composed of two key elements: the ETI Base Code and the accompanying Principles of Implementation. ETI has developed a code of labour practice - the 'Base Code' - reflecting the most relevant international standards with respect to labour practices which will be used as the basis of its work under the form of 9 statements. ETI member companies are expected to adopt the Base Code, or to adopt their own code so long as it incorporates the Base Code. The Base Code, which is accompanied by a set of general principles concerning implementation, provides a foundation for ETI's philosophy of learning. SA8000: SAI is a non-governmental, international, multi-stakeholder organization dedicated to improving workplaces and communities. It does this work with two principal types of tools; developing and implementing socially responsible standards, the first of which was SA8000; training and capacity building-- about specific standards and management systems for implementing social standards-- for workers, managers and auditors throughout the supply chain. SA8000 is an auditable certification standard based on international workplace norms of International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This standard is the benchmark against which companies and factories measure their performance. Those seeking to comply with SA8000® have adopted policies and procedures that protect the basic human rights of workers. There are a series of documents available to support auditors and implementers of the SA8000® Standard; these are: The SA8000® Guidance Document; The SA8000®:2008 Drafters' Notes; and the SA8000® Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Comparison of Codes - Similarities & Additions Page 2 Comparison of Codes: Reference ETI Base Code, SA8000 & GSCP GSCP (Global Social Compliance Program): The Global Social Compliance Programme is a business-driven programme for the continuous improvement of working and environmental conditions in global supply chains. The GSCP was created by and for global buying companies wanting to work collaboratively on improving the sustainability (social and environmental) of their often- shared supply base. To this end, these companies are working on harmonizing existing efforts to deliver a shared, global and sustainable approach based on consensus and best existing practice, to promote upward convergence and reduce duplication. The GSCP Reference tools, including the Reference Code used in this comparison, are the product of the identification of best existing practices in operating monitoring systems, and provide a common base of high-level labour requirements applicable across sectors and geographies. The GSCP Reference Code is not a standard and the GSCP is not a monitoring system. The Programme and its tools are used by companies as a basis to develop their own supplier codes of conduct or as a benchmark for schemes owners (including initiatives or standard-setting bodies) to assess and improve their existing requirements for these to reflect best existing practice. The Reference Code is complemented by other GSCP Reference tools (available open source on www.gscpnet.com) which set out additional requirements for auditing (Reference Audit Process and Methodology), for auditing bodies and auditors (Reference tool for Auditing Competence) and Social Performance Management Systems. Comparison of Codes - Similarities & Additions Page 3 Comparison of Codes: Reference ETI Base Code, SA8000 & GSCP ETI Base code SA 8000 GSCP Intention of Code / Audit - Auditable Labour Standards Code – not - Third party accredited certification - Reference code for benchmarking Method certification scheme. scheme. - Audits conducted by any parties as - Audits conducted by any parties as - Audits conducted by approved SA8000 agreed by the supply chain. agreed by the supply chain. auditors Structure and General The ETI Base code is structured as The SA8000 code is structured as The GSCP Reference code is structured comments follows: follows: as follows: 1. ETI Base Code – 9 elements 1. Purpose and scope of the code 1.Objective 2. Appendices 2. Normative elements and their 2. Scope - Relevant international standards - interpretation – ILO conventions 3. Structure and Annexes UN Universal Declaration of Human 3. Definitions – of multiple terms 4. Compliance with international labour Rights, ILO etc. 4. Social Accountability standards and national legislation - - Definitions (specifically ‘a child’) Requirements(SA8000) – 9 elements including ILO conventions 5. Reference code – 7 elements Differences (a) Code refers to ‘The Employer’. (a) Code refers to ‘The Company’. (a) Reference Code refers to ‘The Supplier’. ILO Conventions / - Universal Declaration of Human Rights - ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS and the This reference code shall not be used to International Standards - Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises World of Work prevent international labour standards or developed by the Organisation for - Universal Declaration of Human Rights national and/or local legislations from being Economic Co-operation and Development - The International Covenant on Economic, exceeded. (OECD) Social and Cultural Rights - United Nations Convention on the - The International Covenant on Civil and Rights of the Child Political Rights - The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child - The United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women - The United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination Comparison of Codes - Similarities & Additions Page 4 Comparison of Codes: Reference ETI Base Code, SA8000 & GSCP 0 Scope and Objective (a) The code constitutes minimum not (a) The Reference code constitutes maximum standards. minimum not maximum standards (appears in ‘Compliance with international labour standards and national legislation’ section). (b) All relevant legislation will apply to (b) All relevant legislation will apply to (b) ILO/national standard/local companies. companies (appears in ‘Compliance with legislation/GSCP Reference code will apply international labour standards and national (appears in ‘Compliance with international legislation’ section). labour standards and national legislation’ section). (c) Companies will apply the provision (c) Companies will apply the provision (c) Companies will apply the provision which affords the highest protection. which is most favourable to workers which affords the highest protection (appears in ‘Compliance with international (appears in ‘Compliance with international labour standards and national legislation’ labour standards and national legislation’ section). section). Additions Additions The code intends to protect and empower all Requirements in this Reference code apply to personnel within a company’s scope of control the whole supply chain (appears in ‘Scope’) and influence as well as control of its suppliers, - The principles and requirements should be subcontractors and sub-suppliers and home respected and implemented (appears in workers (appears in ‘Purpose and Scope’). ‘Compliance with international labour standards and national legislation’ section). Comparison of Codes - Similarities & Additions Page 5 Comparison of Codes: Reference ETI Base Code, SA8000 & GSCP ETI Base code SA 8000 GSCP 1 Employment is freely (a) There is no forced, bonded or (a) The company shall not engage in or (a)1. All work must be conducted on a chosen involuntary prison labour. support the use of forced or compulsory voluntary basis with no threat of any prison labour (as defined in C29). penalty or sanctions. (a)2. No forced or compulsory labour in all its forms, including prison labour (as defined in C29). (a)3. Bonded labour prohibited. (b) Workers are not required to lodge (b)1. Personnel are not required to pay (b)1. Workers are not required to lodge deposits or identity papers. deposits or lodge identity papers. deposits or identity papers. (b)2. The company and any entity (b)2. Employers should not withhold any supplying labour should not withhold any part of the worker’s salary (outside a legal part of the worker’s salary, benefits, contractual agreement). property or documents. (c) Workers are free to leave their (c) Personnel are free to terminate their (c) Workers are free to terminate their employer after reasonable notice. employment provided they give employment after reasonable notice. reasonable notice. Additions Additions - Personnel have a right to leave their - Workers have a right to leave their workplace workplace at the end of their shift. at the end of their shift. - The company and any entity