GSCP REFERENCE TOOLS

To drive convergence, GSCP is building a set of reference tools that describe best practice (underpinned by the relevant ILO Conventions) and provide a common interpretation for fair labour requirements and their implementation. It will enable retailers and brand manufacturers around the world, in whatever industry, to work towards mutual recognition of audit results.

This toolkit comprises a reference code, reference audit systems and methodology and reference guidelines for auditor competence. Each tool will be developed by an Expert working group whose role is to identify and build consensus around best practices and to ensure it upholds international labour standards.

This toolkit, which will be openly available, can then voluntarily be either:

• Integrated in part or in full by companies into their existing system
• Used by companies or initiatives as a reference against which to compare their existing tools.

It is important to note that improving labour practices is incremental.
While reference tools aim at showing what good looks like, it is understood that requirements differ in nature as some are straightforward and can be swiftly implemented, while others are more complex and require progressive implementation, especially where they exceed the minimum required by the law of a specific country.

Companies who join GSCP are not asked to adopt the reference code or to guarantee its immediate implementation on the ground. What is important is to identify best practices and understand how to help suppliers reach minimum required standards and work through continuous improvement to achieve best practice.