Ethical Trading Initiative

It's time for a break! ❄️ As we wrap up 2024, we've been reflecting on the year that's past and looking forward to 2025. Here’s five things to celebrate and anticipate at ETI ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eZwDBEEX Thank you to the ETI members, board members, partners and colleagues that made this year such a success. Wishing you a wonderful festive period and a well deserved rest. See you in 2025! Kate Lewis Giles Bolton Emilie Paradiso Danny Miles Louise Joseph Imran Serugo Ruwan Subasinghe Sophie Brill Evelyn Astor Mark Robertson Mayank Kaushik David Griffin Stephen Craig Stephen Russell Sabita Banerji #BizHumanRights #HumanRights #HRDD #Transparency #Accountability #SocialDialogue Here's a glimpse of our year in numbers ⬇️

⚖️ How can regulatory measures protect #HumanRights whilst leaving no one behind? A few weeks ago, alongside the #UNForumBHR 2024, ETI hosted a side event in collaboration with the #UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and UK Mission Geneva. The event welcomed stakeholders from across the #BizHumanRights landscape, asking this very question. The discussion aimed to progress the conversation on what ‘smart mix of measures’ is needed to maximise the protection and respect for human rights in global supply chains, whilst limiting possible unintended consequences. Joined by representatives from #CivilSociety, #TradeUnions, #Business, #Investors and #Governments worldwide, we witnessed powerful remarks by leading experts including: ⭐ Eleanor Sanders, UK Ambassador for Human Rights and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, ⭐ Robert McCorquodale, Member of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, Barrister & Emeritus Professor, ⭐ Harpreet Kaur, Business and Human Rights Specialist with the UNDP in Asia and the Pacific, and ⭐ Giles Bolton, Executive Director, ETI. Thank you to all who were able to join us in person for this event, and to our colleagues are partners for organising: Emilie Paradiso, Cara Casey-Boyce, Ella Penton-Voak, Natasha Jung, Charles Kent. #ICYMI you missed it, catch up on the event via our new blog https://lnkd.in/dV8RPzjk

🌏 As 2024 comes to a close, The Industry We Want (TIWW) is proud to look back on a year of collaboration and milestones as we thank you for your engagement and work in driving positive change in the garment and footwear sector. Together, we’ve taken meaningful steps toward building an industry defined by dignified work, thriving businesses, and positive environmental impact. Here are some key highlights from 2024: ✅ Industry Dashboard: Third Iteration Published Our latest Industry Dashboard assessed progress across wages, purchasing practices, and GHG emissions. While there are signs of improvement, systemic challenges remain, reminding us that shared responsibility and collaboration are more vital than ever. https://lnkd.in/dPBaJKHc ✅ OECD Forum Side Session: “Towards a Person-Centred Industry” At February’s OECD Forum, diverse voices shared bold insights on creating equitable social dialogue and addressing power imbalances in supply chains. https://lnkd.in/eD2ma-Wk ✅ “Building Trust and Equity” Event in Munich September’s in-person event spotlighted the transformative potential of responsible purchasing practices, bringing stakeholders together to challenge outdated models and foster sustainable relationships. ✅ Deep Dive Discussions This year, we tackled key industry issues: Responsible Purchasing Practices (RPP): Shifting buyer-supplier dynamics. GHG Emissions: Building climate-resilient supply chains. Living Wages: Addressing the 49.5% wage gap in garment-producing countries. What’s Next? We’re excited to continue this momentum into 2025, beginning with a side session at February’s OECD - OCDE Forum: 📅 “Mid-Decade Reflection: Insights from TIWW’s 2025 Metrics and the Road to 2030” https://lnkd.in/enB4SxqA Together, we’re shaping a more equitable and sustainable future. Stay tuned for announcements, and let’s continue driving progress! #TheIndustryWeWant Cascale Fair Wear Foundation Ethical Trading Initiative

#ICYMI Last week, the Tirupur Stakeholders Forum (TSF), an initiative of the TIRUPPUR EXPORTERS' ASSOCIATION (TEA), organised a “Knowledge Sharing Session on #Women’s Safety and #GenderBasedViolence and Harassment (#GBVH) at the Workplace”, to mark #16Days. The event brought together stakeholders from across the sector, including representatives from #Manufacturers, export associations, #TradeUnions, NGOs and the government of #TamilNadu and UN Women. It was inspiring to hear about the work happening in #Tirupur to build awareness of and support progress on a variety of #WomensRights issues. From information sharing on breast cancer and the organisation of screening camps in the region, to implementing policies and codes of conduct again #GBVH, and the work driving women trade unions' participation in wage agreement discussions in the sector. The event provided a platform for women working in the local garment sector to share their insights on risks to safety and GBVH in their workplace. Women workers emphasised the importance of creating safe workplaces for women and fostering a culture of respect and #Equality. We were proud to support this event in collaboration with the Textile Industrial Coalition (TIC). #16DaysOfActivism #BizHumanRights #India

🌍 Joint Advocacy in Action: Collective Bargaining Agreement Signed in Almería’s Agricultural Sector 🌍 We are proud to share a milestone for workers’ rights in Almería, Spain: the signing of a new collective bargaining agreement for the agricultural sector. This achievement brings improved working conditions and increased wages for more than 50,000 workers, of which many are vulnerable migrant workers. ETI Sweden, together with Ethical Trading Initiative, Etisk handel Norge - Ethical Trade Norway, Etisk Handel Danmark and Spain Ethical Trade Forums, played an important role in making this happen. Responding to the initiative of our food company members, we sent a letter urging the parties to negotiate a new agreement. This success highlights the strength of joint advocacy in addressing systemic issues. 📖 Read more about the agreement here: https://lnkd.in/d-eDi6CV #EthicalTrade #WorkersRights #CollectiveBargaining #BizHumanRights

👕 "The sampling room of the world" ? 🌍 #Türkiye has long been a global leader in textiles, known for its design expertise and high-quality production. However, like their counterparts in #India and #Bangladesh, Turkish suppliers face significant challenges due to #PurchasingPractices employed by sourcing brands. Earlier this year, ETI's Purchasing Practices Programme Lead, Melissa Karadana spent 7 weeks in #Türkiye, engaging with over 40 stakeholders across the apparel and textile industry. These discussions offered insight into the challenges faced by local #TradeUnions ,#Suppliers, and sourcing #Brands, and what's needed for progress. Read the blog to find out more 👉 Read the blog to find out more: https://lnkd.in/enwBHSb2 Thank you to TİHCAD-Tekstil İhracatçıları ve Çalışanları Derneği for organising an awareness raising session on these issues 🧡

Enforceable Binding Agreements - Could these be a way forward in combating #GBVH risks? To mark #16DaysOfActivism, ETI hosted a member only webinar on Enforceable Binding Agreements #EBAs focused on ending GBVH in garment supply chains. Leanring from EBAs such as the Lesotho and Dindigul Agreements, the session aimed to shed light on what they are, and how they work to end #GenderBasedViolence. As #16DaysOfActivism draws to a close, ETI #Gender Advisor Halima Ahmed reflects on the role EBAs can play in reducing GBVH risks in supply chains. 💻 Gain insights from our exclusive webinar 👏 Learn about signs of progress 🚧 Understand challenges and obstacles 🚀 Explore how these approaches can be scaled and replicated Read the blog ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eBSmV8Gq #BizHumanRights #HRDD #VAWG

We're #Hiring an #Advocacy consultant! ETI is looking for a consultant to support the development and implementation of an #AdvocacyStrategy, to strengthen our influence, amplify our impact and ensure that our strategic priorities are integrated within policy and funding priorities in the #UK and Internationally. Think you can help? Know some who can? Get in touch ➡️ https://lnkd.in/etb9Quum

Yesterday, ETI Executive Director Giles Bolton was invited to speak on panel at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, to mark #HumanRightsDay. The event, hosted by Lord Collins of Highbury, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the FCDO, presented a key opportunity to convene stakeholders across the #HumanRights space and hear from government Ministers, #HumanRightsDefenders, #Business, #TradeUnion and #CivilSociety representatives, and others invested in the UK agenda. The afternoon opened with speeches from the Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Under Secretary Lord Ray Collins, followed by a panel discussion on the importance of #CivicSpace.    The panel, chaired by Dr Hazel Cameron, Head of the Human Rights Department at the FCDO, included #HumanRightsDefender and Research Fellow at the University of Dundee, Rebecca Odhiambo, Senior Associate at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Richard Youngs, and #Policy Officer at ETI trade union member, Trades Union Congress (The TUC), Sharon Sukhram, as well as our very own Giles Bolton. When asked what #Governments can do to support our advancing human rights in global #SupplyChains, here's what Giles had to say...

Effective #GrievanceMechanisms are thin on the ground... At the #UNForumBHR in Geneva last month, Saara Haapasaari from HEUNI, the European Institute for Crime Prevention and Control stated recent research findings found no company disclosed an effective mechanism to access remedy for #MigrantWorkers in Northern Europe. So what does an effective grievance mechanism look like? At ETI, we've been working to improve access to grievance mechanisms for #Workers in selected agricultural supply chains for two years. Explore our research and recommendations on this topic ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eVSTqMhi Check out Oxfam's #HumanRightsDay post below for some insights on this essential component in addressing #BizHumanRights impacts in #SupplyChains ⬇️