Business Social Compliance Initiative
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Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI) is an initiative that was founded about five years ago by the the Foreign Trade Association (FTA). FTA is the European branch organization and represents European interests in world affairs concerning trade.The organization work for free trade and liberal development. After FTA has examined various European companies and realized that there were a variety of systems and codes of conducts, which all sought to achieve similar goals. FTA considered that these had to be coordinated to achieve better social standards by utilizing each other's knowledge. After the FTA and a number of companies and organizations discussed the options the coordination was created and named the Business Social Compliance Initiative [1].
Contents
BSCI Organization
The Council consists of regular members, who are dealers, trading and manufacturing companies. Only the full members have voting rights in the BSCI. The council meets at least twice a year and they are responsible for long-term planning, budget, activities, procedures and structure of the cooperation.
The representative committee is the official representative of the BSCI when contact with governments and other institutions are made. The committee consists of representatives from the member council and a representative from the secretariat. The representatives from the member council are elected by the council of members and will reflect the national and geographical distribution of the regular members.
Advisory Board (The Stakeholder Board) represents the major stakeholders' interests regarding social issues. It shall consist of 12 members representing various interest groups from trade unions, NGOs, suppliers, representatives from the European commission, the ILO to BSCI members. [2] BSCI also strives that NGOs should be included in the advisory body and among others, Rena kläder (Clean Clothes Campaign) and the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers Federation (ITGLWF) have declined. This is because they would not have a formal right to influence the BSCI's decision. It can only be done by regular members. [3]
Members
BSCI has its headquarters in Brussels and the organization is open to all European and non-European companies and associations. BSCI is available for all types of import companies but most members are in the textile industry. They currently have 81 members, of which 28are Swedish companies, including Lindex, ICA, MQ, Nilson Group and JC. [4]
Execution
Since the spring of 2004 the development phase is considered to be completed and since then their main jobs are to implement codes of conduct and to make sure it is followed but also to expand cooperation.
BSCI Code of Conduct is based on the UN declaration on human rights, rights of the children and ILO (International Labour Organisation) conventions. The code covers the following areas: Laws and regulations, organization rights and right to collective bargaining, discrimination, wages, hours, working conditions, environmental and safety issues and the prohibition of child labor and forced labor. [5]
Controls
The implementation of the code is controlled by external auditors from audit firms that are accredited by SA8000, Social Accountability Accreditation Services. Audits are conducted every three years if the provider is approved upon first inspection. If the provider does not meet the requirements at the first control a time frame within which the problems will be solved is established. The time frame, not to exceed 12 months is put up by the auditor and the supplier together. Import companies are always encouraged to assist providers so they can be able to meet the requirements. To terminate a partnership with a supplier should be seen as a last resort. Once a distributor has been approved, and results of inspections are made, it is saved into a database that is equal to all BSCI members. [6] By synchronizing time-consuming and costly inspections, additional resources are to be spent on strengthening cooperation with suppliers and jointly improve conditions in textile production. [7]
Sources
- [1] BSCI (2008): Our history
- [2] BSCI (2008): Our governance,
- [3] Hur skor vi oss?, Rena Kläder, 2008
- [4] BSCI (2008): Membership
- [5] BSCI (2008) What we do: The BSCI code
- [6] BSCI (2008) What we do: Auditing
- [7] Lindex, Mode under ansvar
