The Fair Labor Association (FLA) issued their third public report on November 14, 2005. This report provides the most comprehensive accounting to date of what various companies are doing to comply with international labor standards. The new report details both company-specific efforts to address working conditions at factories that supply their products, as well as other FLA projects focusing on broader labor rights problems, including those in China. The contents of the report are described further in the FLA’s press release and executive summary. The full report, as well as “tracking charts” on specific factory visits, can be found at: http://www.fairlabor.org/2005report/
Human Rights First has been an active participant in the FLA since the organization was established in 1999, and over the years has led efforts within the FLA for greater public disclosure of information about conditions in factories that supply FLA member companies. This and prior public reports enable a better understanding of what FLA member companies are doing about working conditions throughout their global supply chains – and where additional improvements are still needed. This public disclosure helps consumers, shareholders, human rights organizations, and other interested persons learn more about different companies’ approaches to addressing factory conditions – and to work for continued improvements in those conditions.
