Initiativ for etisk handel

How to engage on worker representation in China

07. mars 2019
Kl. 10:00 - 18:00
Amsterdam, Fashion for Good, Rokin 102, 1012 KZ
Fair Wear Foundation and JETI (IEH, ETI and DIEH)

China remains the largest sourcing market in the world, exporting more than 40% of global apparel and textiles and US$599 million worth of electronics equipment around the world. While there are signs that factories are moving to Southeast Asian countries because of rising labour cost in China, it is predicted that in the foreseeable future, the country will still be a major sourcing market for many international retailers.

However, since the crackdown of civil society and the implementation of the foreign NGO law, there is a significant fall of studies and activity regarding labour rights. This political circumstance in China has long prompted discussions amongst many international retailers on how to fulfil their commitment on enabling workers to access rights on Freedom of Association (FoA)as laid out on the ILO conventions, the UN Guiding Principles and the Base Codes of the joint-Ethical Trading Initiatives and the Code of Labour Practices of Fair Wear Foundation, and how to progress worker representation within a China context.

About the seminar

As a response to build retailers’ capacity and knowledge on this complex issue, and to facilitate meaningful conversations amongst retailers, the joint-Ethical Trading Initiatives and Fair Wear Foundation would like to invite members and stakeholders to a one-day seminar on how to engage on worker representation in China. 

 The seminar aims to:

  • enable members across MSIs to learn from each other’s experiences
  • identify common steps and learnings involved in the FoA journey 
  • provide a safe space to discuss challenges and issues
  • explore the possibility of a collective approach to enable worker representation in Chinese supply chains

Agenda

09:00 - 10:00 Co-working space avaliable for early arrivers

10:00 - 11:00 Registration - Coffee and tea avaliable

11:00 - 11:15 Welcome and introductions

11:15 - 12:15 Worker representation in China - whats is the situation and structure, Representative from the International Trade Union Congress (ITUC) TBC

12:15 - 13:00 How to start/continue the journey of worker representation, Beverley Hall, Senior Advisor Industrial Relations, Ethical Trading Initiative

13:00 - 14:00 Lunch and networking

14:00 - 15:15 How to enable worker representation in China: 

  1. Examples of engaging with factory unions
  2. Examples of engaging with committees
  3. Examples of starting from scratch - how to begin the conversation
15:15 - 15:45 Coffee and tea break

16:00 - 16:45 World Cafe style experience exchange on how to: 

  1. Incorporate worker representation in the ethical trade work 
  2. Lessons learned - do’s and dont’s in the Chinese context 
  3. What is realistic expectations as to how worker representation can work in your Chinese supply chain.
16:45 - 17:00 Wrap up

17:00 - 18:00 Networking drinks
 

Registration

Please register your attendance via Stine Foss (stine@etiskhandel.no). As the number of spaces available for the seminar is limited to 50, kindly register at your soonest convenience. 

Payment

Once you have registered, please transfer the seminar fee (50 EURO) to the below bank account:

Fair Wear Foundation

Amsterdam

The Netherlands

Bank details

BIC:                        ABNANL 2A
IBAN:                     NL41ABNA0595391060

Please reference clearly “Seminar Worker Representation 7 March 2019’’