As identified in the the UN Sustainable Development Goal for ‘Decent Work & Economic Growth’, these numbers need to change. Adding transparency and compliance to global supply chains allows organizations to ensure fairer working conditions for all.
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Case Study
Supply Chain
Improving Working Hours in Global Supply Chains
When a global supply chain struggled to get its supplier to comply with decent working hours, our partnership began.
An important step away from employee overworking
After making a serious commitment to sustainability, a global footwear brand discovered an issue with one key supplier in China
Behind the excessive hours was a high work turnover which subsequently resulted in a lower output quality. Fixing these mistakes took extra time and resources, increasing business costs, violating local laws, damaging relationships, and risking employee wellbeing.
By improving the turnover of workers, the supplier felt sure that it could gain control over working hours as well as bringing better outcomes for its footwear brand client.
A better system for a more just supply chain
During an initial workshop, we worked together to identify gaps in their management systems and diagnose the causes of excessive working hours.
This evolved into a comprehensive improvement programme that aimed to strengthen critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and apply more effective management systems and workflow.
Retaking control
By joining forces with the supplier, we helped it regain control in a number of ways.
Overturning the numbers
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Exposure to long working hours caused over 750,000 deaths worldwide between 2000 and 2016.
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The supplier lowered their rate of turnover from 18% to 3%
Supporting workers' rights
We shape and embed best practice so that businesses can become future ready. As a global standards organization committed to delivering a positive impact for society, we empower industries to deliver equitable workplaces worldwide.
Delivering transparency through standards
Learn how we create more sustainable, decent workplaces through standards and guidance geared towards inclusive best practice.