Ethical Trading Initiative

==Background==
The Ethical Trading Initiative describes itself as 'a ground-breaking initiative which brings together a wide range of organisations from all parts of society. Together, we aim to improve the lives of poor working people around the world. Specifically, we are an alliance of companies, NGOs and trade union organisations working to promote and improve the implementation of corporate codes of practice which cover supply chain working conditions'Ethical Trade Initiative About the Ethical Trade Initiative Accessed 15th January 2009.
According to its website, a 'Base Code' and 'Principles of Implementation' underpins the work of the ETI. ETI claims that these are used to provide a 'basic philosophy or platform from which ETI identifies and develops good practice', and to 'provide a generic standard for company performance'. The ETI states that companies which become members of the ETI are committing themselves to 'implementing our Base Code in their supply chains and reporting annually on their progress in doing so'Ethical Trading Initiative The ETI Base Code Accessed 15th January 2008. 
Yet companies such as Asda, Marks & Spencers, Tesco and Primark, which are ETI members, come under continued criticism for the exploitation of workersWar on Want 'Fashion Victims II: How UK clothing retailers are keeping workers in poverty'. December 2008. Accessed 15th January 2009. Primark was even named as the least ethical place to buy clothes in Britain by Ethical Consumer magazine in 2005, with Marks & Spencer rated thirdHickman, M. (2005)Primark is named as least ethical clothes shop The Independent. 8th December 2005. Accessed 15th January 2009. The contradiction here is glaring, however People and Planet may be shedding some light onto this when they state that a 'company’s membership of the ETI is no guarantee that conditions for its workers are acceptable. Retailers do not have to meet minimum standards to be members - they just have to commit to working towards these standards'People and Planet Ethical Commitments Accessed 15th January 2009. This would explain why Asda and others remain, whilst Levis Strauss was suspended. Asda etc have voiced a commitment (even thought their actions speak otherwise) whilst Levis openly stated that they wouldn't commit. 
===ETI Base Code=== 
The 'Base Code' has 9 principles which areEthical Trading Initiative Base Code Accessed 15th January 2009:
* EMPLOYMENT IS FREELY CHOSEN 
* FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION AND THE RIGHT TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ARE RESPECTED 
* WORKING CONDITIONS ARE SAFE AND HYGIENIC 
* CHILD LABOUR SHALL NOT BE USED 
* LIVING WAGES ARE PAID 
* WORKING HOURS ARE NOT EXCESSIVE 
* NO DISCRIMINATION IS PRACTISED 
* REGULAR EMPLOYMENT IS PROVIDED 
* NO HARSH OR INHUMANE TREATMENT IS ALLOWED 
==History==
The Ethical Trading Initiative was set up in 1998 in response to increasing pressure from trade unions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and consumers to ensure decent working conditions for the people who produce the goods for companies selling food and clothing to UK consumers.
According to its website, the ETI was established 'to bring the combined knowledge and influence of relevant NGOs and the international trade union movement to work alongside these companies in identifying and promoting good practice in code implementation'.
==Failing to stop exploitation==
In 2006, The Institute of Development Studies published the results of a study it had undertaken into the ETI. It is reported that the ETI 'has had little impact' and has 'failed to stop the exploitation of workers who produce the bulk of the products sold in UK shops'Verkaik, R. ( Ethical trading agreement 'has had little impact' The Independent. 19th October 2006. Accessed 15th January 2009. Verkaik of The Independent describes how the report 'shows that while some working conditions have improved, in most cases the agreement has made little or no difference'.
Workers continue to 'remain on low incomes, have no union representation and in some cases are harshly treated by their bosses'.
They also reported that 'there were several cases where a decrease in working hours in order to comply with codes of labour practice had led to reductions in take-home pay... In all countries at least some workers complained that their basic wage was not adequate to live on'.
Another of the ETI's base codes in relation to 'freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining' had also not been effective with the report finding 'that workers were being denied membership of trade unions in the five countries chosen for the study - the UK, Costa Rica, India, South Africa and Vietnam. Quoting from the report, The Independent stated that "In none of the 25 sites did we [The Institute of Development Studies] find an increase in union membership".
The Independent reports ETI's Director, Dan Rees as saying, "We must all recognise that despite the growing pressures on UK retailers to address consumers' ethical concerns, they face much greater pressure to deliver the cheapest products in the shortest possible time". 
==Funding and finances==
According to it's website, The ETI is 'funded by a combination of membership fees (currently [in 2009] comprising approximately 60% of our funding base) and a grant from the Department for International Development (40% of funding). Our members also contribute in-kind to ETI’s work (eg, staff time, travel expenses, meeting facilities)'Ethical Trade Initiative About the Ethical Trade Initiative Accessed 15th January 2009.
In 2002, Clare Short, Secretary of State for International Development, sanctioned a three year grant from the government by awarding ETI £1.315mEthical Trading Initiative ETI Press Release. 9th May 2002. Accessed 15th January 2009
==People==
Director
* Dan Rees appointed in March 2002Ethical Trading Initiative Press Release 9th May 2002. Accessed 15th January 2009.
===Board===
According to its website, the ETI's 'Board has nine voting members or directors, comprised of three representatives from each of the three main categories of members, ie, companies, trade union organisations, and NGOs. Each of the three constituencies also has one alternate director, who may attend Board meetings as a voting member if any of the other three representatives in their constituency is unavailable'Ethical Trading Initiative ETI Board Accessed 15th January 2009.
In April 2008, ETI's Board consisted ofEthical Trading Initiative ETI Board Accessed 15th January 2009:
Chair:
* Alan Roberts - Group Business Standards Director for Littlewoods Retail Limited. Roberts has been on ETI's Board since 1998 and became Chair in 2002Ethical Trading Initiative Press Release 9th May 2002. Accessed 15th January 2009. Littlewoods is owned by Associated British Foods which also owns PrimarkButler, S. (2005)'Primark expands after ABF buys Littlewoods stores' Times Online. 12th July 2005. Accessed 15th January 2009. Primark has come under repeated criticism for the exploitation of workers producing its clothes. For example, War on Want's 2008 report, 'Fashion Victims II: How UK clothing retailers are keeping workers in poverty', 'exposes the appalling conditions faced by workers producing clothes for Primark, Tesco and Asda. The report comes two years on from War on Want’s original Fashion Victims report, published in December 2006, which found that garment workers struggle to survive on extremely low pay, suffering poor working conditions, arduous hours and a complete lack of trade union representation in the factories'. The report continues by stating that despite promises from companies to improve the lives of their workers, 'workers are now in an even worse position than they were before.'War on Want 'Fashion Victims II: How UK clothing retailers are keeping workers in poverty'. December 2008. Accessed 15th January 2009 
Vice Chair:
* Tony Young
Corporate representatives:
* Pam Batty - Next
* Lakshmi Bhatia - Gap Inc. (alternate)
* Javier Chercoles Blazquez - Inditex
* Rob Brown - Boots UK
* Steve Homer - Flamingo Holdings (Co-opted Food Group)
Trade union representatives:
* James Howard - International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
* Neil Kearney - International Textiles, Garments and Leather Workers’ Federation (ITGLWF)
* Teresa Mackay - Unite
* Simon Steyne - Trades Union Congress (TUC)
NGO representatives:
* Maggie Burns - Women Working Worldwide
* Usha Kar - Africa Now
* Peter Williams - National Homeworkers Group (NGH)
* (Vacancy)
Department for International Development (DFID) observer:
* Geraldine Murphy
==Membership==
In 2009, ETI lists its members as followsEthical Trading Initiative Members of the Ethical Trading Initiative Accessed 15th January 2009
===Companies===
* 888 Solutions
* Adolfo Dominguez
* Arco
* Asda
* Associated British Foods (Primark)
* Boden
* Boots UK
* Brett Landscaping
* BTC Group
* Chiquita Brands International
 
* Co-operative Retail
* Debenhams Retail
* Dewhirst Group
* Dimensions Corporatewear
* Ethical Tea Partnership - The Ethical Tea Partnership is an association of tea packers comprising: Accord Tea Services Ltd, Matthew Algie & Co Ltd, Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate Ltd, DJ Miles & Co Ltd, Drie Mollen, Finlay Beverages Ltd, Imporient UK Ltd, Keith Spicer Ltd, Metropolitan Tea Co Ltd, The Nambarrie Tea Company Ltd, Republic of Tea, Sara Lee, Tazo Tea, The Tetley Group, R Twining & Company Ltd, Unilever (Europe), Williamson Fine Teas Ltd, The Windmill Tea Co Ltd. 
* Fat Face
* Flamingo Holdings
* Fyffes Group
* Gap Inc
* Greencell
 
* Icon Live
* Inditex
* Jaeger
* Jenclare Brands
* Le Fruit Inc
* London Underground
* Mackays
* Madison Hosiery
* Marks and Spencer
* Marshalls
 
* Monsoon Accessorize
* Mothercare
* New Look Retailers
* Next Retail
* Pacific Brands
* Pavestone
* Pentland Group
* Premier Foods
* Ringtons
* River Island
 
* Rohan Designs
* Sainsbury's
* Stone Emporium
* Supremia
* Tesco
* The Body Shop International
* Thomas Lyte
* Typhoo Tea
* Union Coffee Roasters
* Vertupak (formerly ProcuraSell)
 
* WH Smith
* The Windward Islands Banana Development and Exporting Company (WIBDECO)
* William Lamb Footwear
* World Flowers
===Trade Unions===
* Council of Global Unions - which includes Building and Wood Workers International (BWI), Education International (EI), International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (IECM), International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation (ITGLWF), International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF), Public Services International (PSI), Union Network International (UNI). 
* International Trade Union Confederation
* Trades Union Congress
===Non-governmental organisations===
* Africa Now
* Anti-Slavery International
* CAFOD
* CARE International UK
* Christian Aid
* Dalit Solidarity Network UK
* HomeWorkers Worldwide
* Oxfam GB
* Quaker Peace and Social Witness (Religious Society of Friends)
* Save the Children
* The Fairtrade Foundation
* Traidcraft Exchange
* TWIN Trading
* Women in Informal Employment: Globalising and Organising (WIEGO)
* Women Working Worldwide (WWW)
===Suspended membership===
In 2007, Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&Co.) resigned from ETI 'following their suspension for refusing to adopt the ‘Living Wage ’ provision of the ETI Base Code'. They were initially given a 12 month suspension by the ETI but later resigned claiming that they did not believe it possible to impliment a living wage provision with their suppliersEthical Trading Initiative Resignation of Levi Strauss & Co. from ETI. 5th February 2007. Accessed 15th January 2009.
==Affiliations== 
===Subsidiaries===
==Publications==
==Contact details, Resources, Notes==
===Contact===
*Address:
*Phone:
*Fax:
*Website:
===External Resources===
===Notes===
Category:CSR