Verit also discussed the factory- based worker training program it has been conducting in Guangdong Province on behalf of a large American apparel and shoe brand. Finally, the list of speakers was rounded off by representatives from two factories who spoke of their efforts to meet customer expectations with regard to social compliance, and the benefits of higher productivity and lower turnover that they have enjoyed as a result. Verit is very pleased to see the conference continue and expand. Not only were there more participants this year than than last year, but participants who were not sponsored by their American and European clients came because they had heard about the conference by word of mouth. This fact, as well as the generally greater level of openness to the process demonstrated by this year s participants, indicates a growing awareness among Chinese factory managers that acceptable working conditions have become a necessary part of client relations.
Much work has yet to be done, but hopeful signs are appearing.
In addition to a conference focusing specifically on health and safety issues to be held in Guangdong in March of 2001, Verit is also planning to host its Fourth Annual Supplier Conference in August 2001 in the industrial and port city of Dalian, Liaoning Province. Third Annual Suppliers Conference will be held in Shanghai on July 21 st . The conference is intended to respond to the desire of many factories to understand the compliance monitoring process, and to provide them with concrete tools needed to meet the changing expectations of the marketplace. This year s conference will take into account the rising awareness of compliance issues among factory managers that Verit has found in its audits in the last year, and while focusing on many of the same issues and areas as last year, will speak from an updated perspective. One of the most positive aspects of last year s conference in Guangzhou was a presentation by a representative of the local labor bureau.