Fair Wear Foundation

Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) works with garment companies to improve labour conditions in the garment industry. Members of FWF - European garment companies - work towards improving the labour conditions in factories that produce their garments. The basis of the collaboration between FWF and a member is the Code of Labour Practices. FWF verifies whether companies comply with the Code of Labour Practices, by keeping track of the improvements made by the companies it works with. The truth is that most garments and sewn products are not (yet) made in fully compliant conditions. For this reason, FWF does not claim that its members’ products are produced in full compliance with labour standards. FWF does however verify that members are working hard, step-by-step, in this direction. Every year, FWF publicly reports on the companies’ progress through the Brand Performance Checks. FWF’s verification system exists at three levels: FWF verifies at the company level to check whether companies implement the FWF Code of Labour Practices in their management systems effectively and FWF verifies at factory level. Finally, FWF implements a complaints procedure in all countries where it is active. This enables the workers at the factory to bring to light (anonymously) any abuses related to labour conditions. FWF joins together business associations, trade unions, and NGOs as equal partners at every level of FWF activity – from decision-making at the Board level to workplace verification. Each stakeholder group has an important role to play in improving working conditions, and the impact is that much greater when they all work together. FWF’s more than 80 member companies represent over 120 brands, and are based in Europe; member products are sold in over 20,000 retail outlets in more than 80 countries around the world. Further information regarding the working method of FWF can be found on www.fairwear.org.