Difference between revisions of "Fair Wear Foundation"
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Latest revision as of 10:27, 10 September 2012
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Fair Wear Foundation, FWF is a Dutch initiative between the various stakeholders in the textile industry. A so-called MSI, Multi Stakeholders Initiative. The goal is to improve Working Conditions in the textile industry.
Organization
FWF is a non-profit independent organization governed by a Board whose members include the leading companies and organizations in the FWF (Modint, Mitex, Bondgenoten FNV, CNV, CSR Platform and Clean Clothes Campaign).
History
In 1999, companies Modint and Mitex joined together with Oxfam Novib, the Max Havelaar Foundation and the Clean Clothes Campaign and the trade unions FNV and FNV Bondgenoten and formed the FWF. Together they refined the code of conduct that are already underway in the Netherlands as a result of protests against poor working conditions in the textile industry. In 2001 the code was put to practice and the group made its first inspections of factories in India, Romania and Indonesia as a pilot project and it laid the foundation for FWF's work method. 2003 they went public and began to recruit members.
Members
In 2008, FWF members are from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, England, Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland. Most are from the organization's home country the Netherlands. Swedish members in 2008 are:
- ACNE
- Cheap Monday (Fabric Scandinavia AB)
- Filippa K
- Monki (Fabric Scandinavia AB)
- Sunday Sun (Fabric Scandinavia AB)
- Weekday (Fabric Scandinavia AB)
One can from the FWF's website download the annual reports of most of its members. Some are lacking.
Operations
FWF's goal is to improve working conditions in the textile industry and their code of conduct is based on the eight ILO conventions and the UN Declaration on Human Rights.
Most companies that join the FWF will for the first time have an actual code of conduct. These companies are usually quite small and have therefore not yet had a dedicated staff that works actively with the Code. These companies offer FWF 30 hour free support during their first member year. For example, the FWF can help companies to set up a work plan and carry it out and review labor conditions in the factories the companies are using. FWF also have a number of letter templates and documents that members can use.
FWF is confident that improvements cannot be made on one’s own and is working with local organizations and authorities. Creating better working conditions is a joint responsibility of governments, employers and trade unions. Also, civil society organizations play an important role in countries where labor costs are regularly flouted. This is why the FWF, in all countries, along with unions, employer organizations, NGO's to keep track of the situation in the local clothing industry.
Just as the FLA, the FWF uses so-called complaint forms, where workers, manufacturers, trade unions and NGOs can submit complaints about working conditions in the factories, and on how the code of conduct is followed. It is the member companies that are responsible for handling complaints and investigating them, possibly in association with FWF and local partners. If the complaint is justified, an improvement plan is established. The complaint can be made anonymously and FWF ensure proper handling of the complaint and later report on how the case has been treated and what has been done on its website.
Controls
FWF periodically checks the members factories and ensure that all their members strive enough to implement and practice the code of conduct in the factories where they make their garments. The inspections are designed to ensure that both manufacturers and suppliers are applying the code. FWF will annually go through an annual work plan for each member company. They ensure that work done in the traditional way and make sure the plan had been implemented as agreed. In some factories, where, for example, there have been complaints about working conditions, further controlls are being conducted.
