Assessing the ETI codes of labour practice 1

In a global economy, codes of labour practice constitute a central element of corporate accountability. Their use has expanded significantly as a result of trade union and non-governmental organization (NGO) campaigns against poor labour conditions in global production networks (GPNs), and the emergence of multi-stakeholder initiatives that promote monitoring and auditing. However, after two decades of existence, questions are increasingly being asked as to how effective corporate codes are as a means of improving labour standards. This chapter contributes to this debate by examining the implementation of codes by companies that participate in the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI). ² It draws on an in-depth study of selected ETI companies sourcing in different sectors in five countries. ³ These included South African fruit, Indian garments, Vietnamese garments and footwear, and company studies of Costa Rica bananas and United Kingdom (UK) horticulture.