Waitrose, part of the ‘big four’ UK supermarket chains, has issued new manuals to 300 of its exclusive suppliers in a bid to raise the standards in ethical trading .
The Responsible Sourcing Workbook, which is to complement the John Lewis Partnership’s Responsible Sourcing Code of Practice, contains advice for suppliers and managers on how to improve labour standards across the globe .
The manual is designed to provide practical assistance to production site managers around responsible sourcing issues, which vary from improving worker welfare to reducing impact on the environment .
It also contains best practice case studies and helps suppliers identify areas for improvement, setting out expectations on issues such as working hours, pay, child labour, worker rights and representation, the environment and animal welfare.
Each section of the workbook opens with an explanation of the issue and features a range of case studies. These include; working with contractors in India to improving conditions for homeworkers, to tackling sexual harassment on farms in Zimbabwe and the (part-time) employment of schoolchildren by a UK salad supplier.
Nick Monger Godfrey, head of Social Responsibility for the John Lewis Partnership, said: “At Waitrose we pride ourselves on working closely with our suppliers to develop robust standards and ensuring the people who make our food are treated fairly and with respect.”
“However, we are never complacent, and this new manual will help our suppliers look closely at their own workplace practices with the aim of further raising standards,” he added.
The manual will be made available to public at the John Lewis website : johnlewispartnership.co.uk/ourresponsibilities.
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