Many retailers also have strong codes of conduct that apply to their suppliers. These codes address such matters as wages, hours, and treatment of workers. Under the NRF's Statement of Principles, compliance with these provisions must be included in retailers' contracts with their suppliers, so that these labor standards become legally-binding contractual obligations of the suppliers. Many retailers have implemented elaborate systems for ensuring compliance with labor standards by their suppliers. There is no legal requirement to undertake this expensive and difficult task.
Retailers do it because it is in their economic interest, and because it is the right thing to do.
The truth is, the U.S. retail industry has taken, and continues to take, energetic steps to identify and end violations of labor standards by suppliers. Labor violations can disrupt their supply of merchandise, bring them adverse publicity, and end up costing retailers a lot of money. Although labor standards are expensive to enforce, they end up saving retailers money. External monitors are trained professionals with high standards of professional responsibility. Retailers often use external monitors, such as the major accounting firms, to check supplier compliance with labor standards.