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FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA

Overview of global developments and Office activities
concerning codes of conduct, social labelling and other
private sector initiatives addressing labour issues

Appendix: Tables

Social labelling

Content of programmes

Structure and operation

Social labelling

The inclusion of a company or programme in this table does not constitute endorsement by the ILO of any product, service, company or programme. This table includes selected operative social labelling programmes for which sufficient information was available. Although the table is inherently limited in its capacity to fully reflect the complexities of content, implementation, and effect of each programme, it is offered as a framework for further elaboration and investigation. The Office welcomes further information or corrections to ensure accuracy and comprehensive coverage.
 

W: Workers' organizations

E: Enterprise or entrepreneurs

G: Governments

LA: Latin America

NA: North America

NGO: Other NGOs

 

Programme

Started

Sector

Product

Market sector

Primary countries of operation

Leaders

export

domestic

Producers

Buyers

W

E

G

IGO

NGO

Care & Fair

1994

Textiles

Hand-knotted carpets

X

India, Nepal, Pakistan

Germany, UK, Netherlands, Luxembourg

X

Kaleen

1995

X

India

Germany, Nordic countries

X

X

RUGMARK (1)

1994

X

India, Nepal, Pakistan

Germany, USA, other W. European countries, Canada

X

STEP (2)

1995

X

India, Nepal, Pakistan, Morocco, Egypt

Switzerland

X

X

Double Income Project

1995

Textiles, handicrafts, jewellery

Kenya, India, LA, esp. Peru

Switzerland

X

Pro-Child

1995

Footwear

X

Brazil

Brazil

X

Abrinq

1995

Diverse

Footwear and other (3)

X

X

Brazil

Brazil, other LA

X

X

Baden

1997

Textiles & leather

Sporting balls

X

China

Primarily NA and W. Europe, some in LA, Pacific Rim

X

Reebok

1996

Soccer balls

X

Pakistan

USA, Europe, LA

X

Fairtrade Labelling Org. International (4)

1988

Agriculture

Agricultural products

X

About 20 in Africa, LA & Asia

W. Europe, USA, Canada, Japan

X

Flower Label Program

1997

Cut flowers

X

Ecuador, Israel, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Germany, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland

X

X

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

1996

Forestry

Forestry products, including timber

X

X

Brazil, Mexico, Malaysia, Poland, S. Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, UK, USA

Australia, Japan, W. Europe, NA

X

X

X (5)

1. RUGMARK International is expected to maintain uniform standards across the RUGMARK system; RUGMARK Foundations in Germany and the USA manage and protect the trademark system and promote the labelled carpets in the importer countries; RUGMARK Foundations in India and Nepal are autonomously responsible for implementing the RUGMARK criteria locally.

2. STEP (Stiftung fur Gerechte Bedingungen in Teppich-Herstellung und Handel -- Foundation for fair conditions in carpet production and carpet trade) is a joint initiative of a Swiss industry association and five Swiss NGOs.

3. The Abrinq Foundation for Children's Rights created the Child-Friendly Company Programme, which includes a labelling component. The Foundation is an NGO established by members of Brazil's Association of Toy Manufacturers. It also covers toys, agricultural products, chemicals, transport equipment, financial and other (restaurant, parking) services and utilities.

4. FLO International is an umbrella organization comprising the independent labels Max Havelaar, TransFair and Fairtrade Mark. FLO agricultural products include coffee, tea, honey, sugar, cocoa, bananas, and orange juice. FLO products are largely exported through alternative trade structures, but aim to reach a broader market through exports through mainstream retail channels.

5. Indigenous peoples also have an equal voice as stakeholders in FSC International.

  Content of programmes

 

Programme

Nature of labour issue

Requirements refer to ILO and/or international labour standards

Child labour

forced labour

freedom from discrimination

freedom of association

right to collective bargaining

wage levels

social benefits

working hours

OSH

job security and training

Remove children from workplace

Fund education or related social measures

Care & Fair

X

X

X

X

Kaleen

X

X

RUGMARK

X

X

X

STEP

X (gradual)

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Double Income Project

X

X

X

Pro-Child

X (6)

X

Abrinq

X 1

X

Baden

X

X (7)

Reebok

X

X

Fairtrade Labelling Organisations Int'l (8)

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Flower Label Program

X

X

X (9)

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Forest Stewardship Council (10)

X

X

X

X

X

6. In both programmes child labour is defined in accordance with Brazilian law, which prohibits employment of children under age 14.

7. The Baden label states: "No child or slave labor used to make this ball" (emphasis supplied).

8. The labour issues in this table apply only to FLOs working at the plantation level with tea (six countries) and bananas (three countries). Wage levels, working conditions and health and safety standards (OSH) are set with reference to national legal standards or, if none, standard regional conditions.

9. Freedom of association among workers is respected where unions are legally recognized in the country ("[w]enn politische Organisationen (Gewerkschaften) im Land gesetzlich zugelassen sind").

10. In some cases, FSC affiliates at the national level have interpreted the international labour requirements for application at the national level. Thus, the treatment of freedom of association is different at the national level in Bolivia, Germany, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Structure and operation

 

Programme

Sources of financing

Primary implementation methods

Object of label or certification

Manner of publicity

flat fees for license or membership (buyer or manufacturer)

proportional fees for the use of label

grant /assistance from G, IGOs, NGOs, W, E

Self-monitoring (enterprise, contractual partners or individual entrepreneurs)

Input by W

Third party monitoring

product or service

company

other

typically attached to individual item

display or promotional activity by company

upon export

upon import or sale

G

NGOs / prof. auditors

Care & Fair

X

X

X

X

Kaleen

X

G

X

X

X

X

RUGMARK

X

X

X

G, NGO, IGO

X

X

X

STEP

X (11)

X

G, NGO

X

X

X

Double Income Project

X

X

initial small G grant

X

X

Pro-Child

X

E, G, IGO

X (12)

X

X

X

Abrinq

E, IGO, NGO

X (13)

X

X

Baden

X

X

X

X

Reebok

X

X

X

Fairtrade Labelling Organisations Int'l.

X

G, IGO, NGO

X

X

X

X

Flower Label Program

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

X

X

NGO, G, IGO

X

X (14)

X

X

X (15)

X

X

11. Manufacturing licensees are expected to donate to the project an amount equal to the wages given their workers. See footnote 2 in previous table.

12. The Pro-Child Institute may make unannounced visits to production sites, but primarily relies on self-monitoring processes that include complaints of child labour made by labour inspectors and unions, and also by visiting business partners.

13. Although no formal third party monitoring takes place in the Abrinq scheme, the decision to grant a one-year license to applicant enterprises is taken in consultation with public officials, trade unions, employers' associations and other NGOs. Abrinq subsequently carries out investigations in the event complaints of child labour are received informally from similar sources.

14. The independent national certification bodies are accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council.

15. The FSC provides (1) certification of forest management which applies to forests (currently in 25 countries) and is issued to companies, indigenous peoples and other forest managers, and (2) certification of chain of custody, which applies to the market chain, from certified forest through processing to retail, and is issued to a company for use on products or in advertising.

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