The code is the first of a series of reference tools that GSCP intend to develop with the aim to help companies work together to deliver a common message and reduce duplication and confusion.

The past ten years has seen the development of divergent approaches to upholding labour standards including the proliferation of codes and the duplication of many efforts. Progress has been slow. All those working in the field of labour standards would agree that efforts need to be harmonised and there needs to be more cross-industry collaboration. The new GSCP code promises to drive convergence and “deliver a shared, consistent and global approach for the continuous improvement of working conditions across all categories and sectors.”

 Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) point out that there are already a number of multi-stakeholder initiatives operating in the field of labour standards including the Ethical Trading Initiative, Fair Wear Foundation, Fair Labor Association, Social Accountability International and the Workers Rights Consortium operating in the field of labour standards These existing initiatives are co-operating to harmonize their own standards through the JO-IN programme. CCC argues that there is no need for another code and the existence of the new code may even undermine existing efforts.

The GSCP, however, has garnered high-level support backing from the United Nations, the International Federation of Human Rights, the Global Union Network and CSR Asia. GSCP stresses its credentials as a tool for sharing best-practice and that it is not a monitoring scheme or a substitute for existing systems.

The partnership has the potential to create a sea change in how companies collaborate to ensure labour standards are upheld and for this reason alone it should be applauded.. As Terry Babbs, Director of International Trading Law and Technical at Tesco and the GSCP Chairman said “Our businesses together touch millions of people either directly through our customers and employees or indirectly through hundreds of millions of workers in our supply chain.” Impactt wish the partnership every success in their endeavours.

A new network to promote good working practices in developing countries will be launched today, 4^th December, at the Ethical Trade Initiative Food Group meeting.

The Local Resources Network is an online community for organisations working to improve employment conditions in factories, on farms and in work sites worldwide. The network is intended to link corporate and NGO members sourcing from developing countries with local partners (Local resources) who have expertise in managing projects and conducting workplace remediation.  Local resources may be NGOs, Trade Unions, auditors, social scientists or specialists with expertise in relevant topics such as child labour remediation.

The network is designed to provide a link between interested parties and to facilitate:

• Workplace remediation projects (productivity improvement, child labour remediation etc.)
• Discussions on specific workplace topics
• Sharing of information and experience
• Capacity building for local resources on country and industry topics.

The website will allow organisations to upload a profile, publicise their experience and skills in workplace remediation and establish contacts with potential project partners.

The sponsors of the Local Resources Network are:

The Local Resources Network was set up by Impactt limited and is currently being managed by the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI).  For further information on the network and to find out how to join, please follow the link to the website.

The ETI has just produced two really useful new films that set out the business case for ethical trade, for suppliers and retailers.  We all know that pictures, preferably moving pictures, are crucial in getting people to relate to workers and their lives and we welcome these new films as a useful resource for communicating this vital message.

The retailer film aims to raise awareness of buyers, Board members and technologists to the issues of ethical trade. It sets out:

• What is ethical trade?
• Why consumers care?
• Other business benefits of ethical trade

The case is bolstered through insights from representatives from:

• Companies including: The Gap, Next Plc, and Tesco
• Trade Unions such as the TUC
• NGOs such as Women Working Worldwide and Labour behind the Label

The supplier film sets out the key business benefits for suppliers (i.e. owners and managers of factories and farms) of taking labour codes seriously and improving working conditions. It is based on interviews carried out earlier this year with seven garment and food suppliers in China, Kenya and the UK, as well as major global brands and retailers in the UK and US. The supplier film is subtitled in Spanish and Chinese as well as English.

Both films are stylish and professional, setting out their cases in a compelling and effective manner. Impactt would like to congratulate the ETI on producing two useful and informative resources.

Please call 0207 841 5182 or email eti@eti.org.uk if you would like to receive a copy (each DVD contains both films on the same disk).

Perhaps the most high profile Tesco critic of recent weeks is the US Democratic Party’s nominee for the presidential election – Barack Obama. Mr Obama recently wrote to Tesco Chief Executive Sir Terry Leahy encouraging the retailer to engage with Trade Unions, after the management of the company’s US operation – Fresh & Easy – refused to have discussions with UFCW, a grocery workers’ union.

At the same time, Tesco is also under pressure from War on Want and Labour Behind the Label who have undertaken research into the living standards of workers in some of Tesco’s Indian suppliers. The two organisations claim that workers earn an average of £38 a month – £14 below the estimated living wage of £52 per month, while working long hours and even having to do forced overtime shifts. The report also claims that workers are put under pressure to meet onerous targets, and are fired if they fail to do so.

Tesco has responded to the War on Want allegations saying they were ‘unsubstantiated’, they have criticised War on Want for declining to engage with the supermarkets. “Out of the blue they make these allegations without producing any evidence,” Tesco said.

In the UK, meanwhile, TV cook Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is encouraging Tesco to improve the welfare of the intensively reared chickens that it procures. Animal welfare campaign groups have also focussed on the sale of live turtles in Tesco stores in China

Labour standards are now an established issue at the Tesco AGM. Last year War on Want filed a shareholder resolution focused on living wages in Bangladesh. In 2006, Action Aid brought South African farm-worker Gertruida Baartman to address the shareholders. The debate around Primark shows that these issues are only growing in consumers’ awareness and we can expect more calls for retailers to respond.

Tesco for their part have stated that they are members of the ETI and take labour standards in their supply chain very seriously.

At today’s meeting Tesco’s shareholder will be asked to consider a resolution demanding higher standards for workers in Tesco’s global supply chain. If passed, the resoulution would oblige Tesco to “appoint independent auditors to ensure that workers in its supplier factories are guaranteed decent working conditions, a living wage, job security and the right to join a trade union of their choice.”

Many of the larger shareholders are unlikely to support the resolution, because it asks the company to ‘guarantee’ conditions. Something that with the best will in the world Tesco is unlikely to be able to ensure. However the resolution, which was tabled by War on Want’s company secretary, Ben Birnberg, has the support of investors like the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

There is still a great deal of pressure on supermarkets to show that they are responding to these issues. It is unlikely to go away.