BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative)

Preamble

BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) is a leading business-driven initiative for companies committed to improving working conditions in the global supply chain. BSCI has over 1300 member companies around a development-oriented system applicable to all sectors and sourcing countries.

What is BSCI?

The BSCI is based on the labor standards of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and other important international regulations like the UN Charta for Human Rights, as well as on national regulations. This initiative aims at continuously improving the social performance of suppliers, ultimately enhancing working conditions in factories worldwide.

Aim and objectives

BSCI was established by the Foreign Trade Association (FTA) in order to create consistency and harmonization for companies wanting to improve their social compliance in the global supply chain. BSCI aims to establish a common platform for the various European companies Codes of Conducts and monitoring systems, it also lays the groundwork for a common monitoring system for social compliance.

The ultimate goal of BSCI is protecting the workers’ rights and benefits in compliance of local and international requirements such as the International Labor Organization (ILO) Conventions and other important Declarations of the Nations  , the OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises and the UN Global Compact. This goal can only be achieved through a strong commitment from participants to implement the system.

The issues are considered by BSCI

BSCI operates on the following principles:

Committed: Participants commit to implement the BSCI Code of Conduct as part of their business relations with suppliers, showing a willingness to improve the working conditions in their supply chain.

Consistent: Offers a unique and uniform system for suppliers worldwide consisting of one Code of Conduct and one implementation process, ensuring consistency and comparability of audits.

Comprehensive: The social compliance system is applicable to both large and small companies and covers all products (industrialized and primary production) sourced from any country.

Development oriented: Is not a certification scheme. and offer a step by step development approach that helps suppliers implement the Code of Conduct gradually.

Credible: We only use external, experienced and independent auditing companies to perform audits.

Efficient: Our common database of suppliers creates efficiencies and avoids duplicating audits at factories already in the system. Since September 2013, the BSCI launched a new platform for sharing the audit details through auditing companies/ CBs, procedures and participants. Also has a strong monitoring system for controlling at all tiers of entrepreneurs like participants, CBs as well as producers.

Collaborative: BSCI cultivates involvement of relevant stakeholders in Europe and supplier countries.