We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.
  • INDUSTRY PRESS ROOM
  • SUBMISSIONS
  • MEDIA FILE
  • Create Account
  • Sign In
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Free Newsletters
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
  • STRATEGY
  • GLOBAL
  • LOGISTICS
  • MANUFACTURING
  • PROCUREMENT
  • VIDEO
    • News & Exclusives
    • Viewer Contributed
    • CSCMP EDGE 2022 Startup Alley
    • Upload your video
  • PODCAST ETC
    • Podcast
    • White Papers
    • Webcasts
    • Events
    • Blogs
      • Reflections
      • SCQ Forum
    • Mobile Apps
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
  • STRATEGY
  • GLOBAL
  • LOGISTICS
  • MANUFACTURING
  • PROCUREMENT
  • VIDEO
    • News & Exclusives
    • Viewer Contributed
    • CSCMP EDGE 2022 Startup Alley
    • Upload your video
  • PODCAST ETC
    • Podcast
    • White Papers
    • Webcasts
    • Events
    • Blogs
      • Reflections
      • SCQ Forum
    • Mobile Apps
Home » Five corporations pledge to change their supplier codes of conduct to fight forced labor in their supply chains
Forward Thinking

Five corporations pledge to change their supplier codes of conduct to fight forced labor in their supply chains

August 17, 2017
Supply Chain Quarterly Staff
No Comments

Five major corporations—Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co., Hormel Foods, Marriott International, and Michael Kors Holdings Ltd.—have committed to changing their supplier codes of conduct to require suppliers to use "no fees" recruitment policies.

By pledging to add these provisions, the companies are trying to stop the use of unethical labor brokers, who charge cross-border job seekers high fees and ask them to surrender travel documents in return for finding them a job. Many see this practice as a form of forced labor or modern-day slavery.

The five companies represent several of the industry sectors considered at high risk for unethical recruitment practices, including automotive (Ford and GM), food/agriculture (Hormel), hospitality (Marriott), and apparel (Michael Kors).

The commitments came about as a result of an initiative by the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), a coalition of investors. The organization's "No Fees" initiative encourages companies to adopt policies that stipulate that employees should never pay recruitment fees for jobs, and that they should always have a clearly written contract.

"Brands are waking up to the fact that controlling labor recruitment at all levels of the supply chain is a corporate responsibility," said Valentina Gurney, who leads the "No Fees" initiative for ICCR, in a statement. "With these new commitments, we see real momentum building, and we congratulate these five companies for stepping out on this important issue."

To help other companies that may be interested in implementing ethical recruitment policies, ICCR published Best Practice Guidance on Ethical Recruitment of Migrant Workers in May.

The group also recommends that companies consider joining other initiatives, such as:

  • The Leadership Group for Responsible Recruitment, which was founded by Coca-Cola Company, HP Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise, IKEA, and Unilever in 2016 to promote ethical recruitment
  • The Consumer Goods Forum's Forced Labor Initiative, which is focused on eliminating forced labor in the consumer goods supply chain
  • The Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition's Responsible Labor Initiative, which works to prevent forced labor through the application of advanced due-diligence standards, tools, and programs in the electronics industry's global supply chain

ICCR has 300 member organizations comprising faith communities, socially responsible asset managers, unions, pensions, nongovernmental organizations, and other socially responsible investors with combined assets of over US$200 billion.

  • Related Articles

    Tech companies should do more to eliminate slavery, forced labor in their supply chains, report says

    Chubb: businesses should study their multi-tier supply chains to control risk

    Stricken by pandemic, 3PLs and their shipper customers look to strategic relationships and “nearshored” supply chains

Recent Articles by Supply Chain Quarterly Staff

Kearney launches “supply chain institute” as more companies seek resilience plans

Trucking industry lobbies for leverage in transition to zero emissions

Safety will be top of mind on National Forklift Safety Day 2023

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Most Popular Articles

  • Survey: most Americans unaware that truckers face shortage of parking spaces

  • Best practices in logistics sustainability

  • Supply chain executives not yet seeing expected results from technology investments

  • Postal Service plans to seize items mailed with fake stamps

  • Inflation drops again as interest rate hikes hit home, NRF says

Featured Video

20221107korber large vs

Enhancing Customer Experience with Your Supply Chain Strategy

Viewer Contributed
With the rise of e-commerce, many businesses have had to transform their warehouses to handle online orders in addition to regularly scheduled inventory shipments. This means warehouses need more information than ever before to ensure they can meet customers' needs. As a result, companies need to select warehouse...

FEATURED WHITE PAPERS

  • Guide to Pallet Rack Safety

  • 3PLs: Complete Orders Faster with Flexible Automation

  • A shipper's guide to navigating post-pandemic holiday freight

  • THE NEW WAY TO WAREHOUSE: 4 Innovations in Automation & Robotics to Boost Warehouse Productivity

View More

Subscribe to Supply Chain Quarterly

Get Your Subscription
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • E-NEWSLETTERS
  • ADVERTISING
  • CUSTOMER CARE
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT
  • STAFF
  • PRIVACY POLICY

Copyright ©2023. All Rights ReservedDesign, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing