UPDATED Recent news articles have raised questions about the use of prison labour in Chinese factories in the supply chain of Takko, a Fair Wear Foundation member company. FWF has understandably received questions about how such conditions can happen in the supply chain of an FWF member brand.
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Fair Wear Foundation employs a process approach to making improvements. FWF’s approach meets companies where they are. We do not expect brands to have perfect supply chains when they join FWF – what we expect is that they will work, step-by-step, to make improvements.
FWF does not certify brands or clothing as ‘100%’ fair – there are simply too many places in any apparel supply chain where things can go wrong. What FWF does is report publically on the progress of member brands towards the implementation of the FWF Code of Labour Practices.
When problems are reported to FWF – and there are problems in every apparel supply chain – FWF does not automatically end memberships. It is FWF’s belief that such an approach does nothing to help workers, and only encourages companies to hide problems. FWF has a complaints mechanism through which problems can be investigated, and brands can be required to find solutions. The findings and resolutions of these complaints are published on FWF’s website.
Brands who continue to make meaningful progress toward implementation of the Code of Labour Practices are allowed to maintain their membership.
To learn more about FWF’s process approach, please read our process approach policy overview.
Takko joined Fair Wear Foundation on 1 October 2011.
UPDATED: Takko’s first Brand Performance Check report is available to download.
UPDATED: FWF’s Complaints Report on this matter is available to download.
