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Events and Deadlines
May 25: Member Surveys Due.
May 29: Conference Call on UN Guiding Principles
June 4-6: WMC Training (Shanghai).
June 18-22: EICC-GeSI Labor & Ethics Training Course (Seoul).
July 16-19: Summer Meeting (Boston).
August 13-15: WMC Training (Guangzhou)
September 3-5: WMC Training (Singapore)
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Submit Information
Submit articles to Brad Cameron
by 5 PM EST on Fridays.
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Subscriptions
Contact Ben Bruno to add names to the distribution list.
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2011 Annual Report Member Survey:
All Members Must Report by May 25
The EICC Member Survey was sent to primary representatives on Monday, April 30. All companies that were EICC members at the end of 2011 are required to complete the survey by Friday, May 25.
The survey is designed to collect up-to-date, publicly-reportable information from member companies about their progress toward meeting EICC objectives. The aggregated survey results will be a key component of the 2011 EICC Annual Report. The results will also be used for work group planning. More information can be found in Section 5.12 of the Membership Compliance Program.
The survey must be completed online, but the survey questions can be accessed by clicking on either Applicant Member or Full Member. Contact Wendy Dittmer for more information.
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UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: May 29 Feedback on ICT Sector Guidance
European Commission (EC) deployment of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights includes a section on Corporate Responsibility to Respect Human Rights. The EC developed Sector Advisory Groups (SAGs) to develop guidance for industry sectors. Jan-Willem Scheijgrond (Philips) is a member of the SAG for the ICT sector.
Draft guidance documents will be published this week on the project website. All interested stakeholders will have an opportunity to submit online feedback on the guidance material. Jan-Willem will also have an opportunity to provide feedback during a SAG meeting on May 31.
EICC will coordinate member feedback for Jan-Willem in advance of the SAG meeting. Interested EICC members can participate in a conference call on Tuesday, May 29 at 9 AM EST. Contact Wendy Dittmer to join the call. A draft guidance will be provided before the call.
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Register Early for EICC Summer Meeting
July 16-19
The EICC Summer Meeting will be held over a four-day period from July 16-19 at Gillette Stadium in Boston, MA. The meeting will include exciting changes to provide even greater value for EICC members. The meeting agenda includes:
- July 16: Board Meeting
- July 17: Business Meeting
- July 18: Work Group Workshops
- July 19: Global Issues Conference
New Opportunities
The July 17 business meeting will be used to update members on organizational changes, tools and program improvements, and other association developments. The July 18 workshops will provide a new opportunity for all EICC members to participate in in-depth discussions with work groups about their key initiatives. The July 19 conference will provide an opportunity for EICC members to engage with third-parties, including experts, other industries, and stakeholders, on emerging global CSR issues.
Registration
Register for the meeting here. Attendees are encouraged to register early for a room at the Renaissance Boston Hotel & Spa at Patriot Place. All other hotels are located 7-10 miles away from the meeting venue. Early hotel registration is available here.
Help Sponsor an Event
The meeting will be hosted by EMC, which is helping to cover some of the costs. Other members are encouraged to help offset remaining costs for what we anticipate will be the largest and most successful membership meeting to date. Contact Grant Feichtinger for more information about sponsorship opportunities.
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Health & Safety Training: Feedback from Participants
The L&CB Work Group launched the EICC health and safety training course on May 3. The training materials were developed in partnership with UL Responsible Sourcing. Dell, Inc. hosted the training at its Malaysia facility, which was attended by 30 participants (thank you Dell!).
The course helps facility managers overcome challenges to implementing effective health and safety programs, and build a culture in factories that promotes health and safety. The course applies a train-the-trainer model to help facility managers transfer knowledge to employees. The materials are available in Chinese and Spanish for EICC and GeSI members. A list of companies that attended the pilot and feedback from participants is available here.
EICC members and their suppliers are encouraged to use the training materials and sessions to build their health and safety capabilities.
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Audit Process and EICC-ON Enhancements
VAP Protocol 4.0 Released
Recent changes to the EICC Code of Conduct make the electronics industry a leader to address corruption, human trafficking, minerals sourcing, and employee living conditions. The new VAP audit protocol reinforces the EICC commitment to make continuous improvements in these areas. All VAP audit scheduling will now use the updated protocol, and a completed SAQ will replace the Attachment A.
The updated audit protocol includes significant positive changes. It incorporates EICC Code 4.0, and has been revamped to improve the quality, efficiency, consistency, and clarity in audits and audit reports. Users will see two new VAP documents on the VAP SharePoint Site:
- VAP Operations Manual (the guide used by all audit firms): The Code interpretation section now has Minimum Requirements for the various forms of observation, including site observation, document review, management interview, and worker interview. Updates have also been made to many others.
- Audit Protocol (the questions and guide used on-site to assess compliance): The core set of questions has been streamlined, and there are now versions of the protocol for Manufacturing (version M), Small and Medium Enterprises (K), Labor Agent/Contractor (L), and Service Provider (S).
The updated protocols are available now for any new audits scheduled outside of EICC-ON, and testing will begin this week on the VAP process in EICC-ON. VAP audits with Audit Program Manager (APM) managed corrective action plans will be available for scheduling and management in EICC-ON beginning in mid-June following successful testing of the audit protocol in the system. Management of audits without corrective action plans in EICC-ON is expected in mid-September
Contact APM/VECTRA for specific VAP questions and Grant Feichtinger with other questions.
APM Managed Corrective Action Plans
The VAP contracts have been updated to allow for APM management of corrective action plans following an initial Validated Audit Report (VAR). APM management of a corrective action plan allows facilities to provide reports to multiple customers without anti-trust concerns. APM corrective action plan management is available for $750.
Update EICC-ON Web PagesAdditional EICC-ON resources are now available on the EICC website. The pages are written for EICC members and non-member suppliers, and contain general information about the system, FAQs, and user guides for registering and completing SAQs. The web pages will be updated regularly. The next update will include a user guide for scheduling VAP audits in the system. VAP Tip of the WeekA validated audit report will become invalid if a facility moves. Companies should not request an audit of a facility within 6 months of a move.
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Submit a Case Study on CSR: Date Extended
The L&CB Work Group requests examples of successful projects that demonstrate a business case for corporate social responsibility. The work group wants cases from any interested company, including in other industries, in the areas of environmental performance, labor standards, health and safety, and local community engagement. In particular, the examples should demonstrate quantitative benefits such as:
- Reduced operational costs.
- Increased sales or access to new markets.
- Reduced employee turnover or absenteeism.
- Product efficiencies related to eco-design innovation
Click here for more information. Submissions are due May 30.
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Worker-Management Communication Training Sessions
EICC and GeSI will sponsor three Worker-Management Communication Training sessions in 2012. The "train the trainer" course will help member companies and their suppliers implement effective worker-management communication systems. It also will raise worker awareness of their rights and responsibilities.
Sessions and Registration
- June 4-6: Hosted by Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik (ATMS) in Shanghai (Mandarin).
- August 13-15: Hosted by Jabil in Guangzhou (Mandarin).
- September 3-5: Hosted by EMC in Singapore (English).
Register for any of the sessions here. See an event summary here. Contact Jannie Bailey for more information. Contact INFACT Global Partners if your company is interested in using the training internally or with your suppliers.
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EICC-GeSI Audit Courses Available
EICC-GeSI Labor & Ethics Lead Auditor courses are open for registration. Visit the Verite website for course descriptions and fee information. Fees include an online pre-study component and a five-day workshop. Payment can be made directly through the website. Available courses include:
- Bangalore: June 11-15
- Seoul: June 18-22
- Bangkok: Aug. 13-17
- Shenzhen: Sept. 10-14 (Mandarin)
- US: Sep. 24-28
- Mexico: Oct. 15-19 (Spanish)
- Brazil: Nov. 5-9
- Shenzhen: Dec. 10-14 (Mandarin)
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Need Help?
Contact AMS staff at 202-962-0167
Programs: Brad Cameron
Operations: John Flatley
Member Services: Carrie Hoffman
Work Group Coordinator: Grant Feichtinger
Membership Assistant: Ben Bruno
Membership Compliance: Anne Vogel-Marr
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