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December 2010
In This Issue
1. Fire Safety & Disaster Prevention in Bangladesh Garment Industry
2. Launch of SAI's "RAGS" Project in India
3. Eileen Fisher Workshop with Suppliers in China
4. Fair Trade Apparel: Collaborative Auditor Training
5. Roundtable Dialogue on Improving the DR's Sugarcane Sector
6. From New York to Sweden: SA8000 Presentation
7. Highlights & Announcements
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Social Accountability International (SAI) is a non-profit, multi-stakeholder organization established to advance the human rights of workers and the health of enterprises by promoting decent work conditions, labor rights, and corporate social responsibility through voluntary standards.

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For newsletter inquiries contact: Joleen Ong, [email protected]
top1Fire Safety in Bangladesh: Update on ITGLWF-SAI Project
ITGLWF & SAI convene 2-day multi-stakeholder conference in Dhaka on disaster prevention and fire safety in the Bangladesh garment industry
In the center, Judy Gearhart (SAI) & Steve Grinter (ITGLWF) stand between Abdus Salam Murshedy, BGMEA President (left of Ms. Gearhart) and A. Kamrul Anam, BNC President (right of Mr. Grinter) and a group of representatives from Gap Inc., H&M, Disney, Inditex, Next, Lindex, and Jones Apparel.  
As we post this article, the New York Times and other news agencies are reporting yet another tragic fire last night took at least 25 workers' lives in Bangladesh and injured dozens more.  Fire fighters continued searching for survivors from the factory located in the Ashulia industrial zone near Dhaka.  [Click here to read a joint statement released by the Clean Clothes Campaign, International Labor Rights Forum, the Worker Rights Consortium, and the Maquila Solidarity Network]

In an effort to prevent further tragedies in the Bangladesh apparel industry - where another fire in February claimed 21 workers' lives - SAI and the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers Federation (ITGLWF) are cooperating to raise awareness and promote prevention measures.  Two recent meetings kicked off this project, which is financed by a coalition of global brands and development cooperation through the MFA Forum.

On December 5 and 6, SAI, the ITGLWF and a coalition of its local affiliates - the Bangladesh National Council (BNC) - convened a multi-stakeholder dialogue on fire safety.  More than 90 individuals - representing government, factory managers, NGOs, trade unions and a dozen global brands - took part in animated discussions.  The group talked in-depth about fire safety hazards in the Bangladesh apparel sector. Factory managers and brand compliance officers spoke frankly about the challenges they face to improve infrastructure throughout the industry.   Several international brands-including Disney, Gap Inc., Jones Apparel, H&M and Next - flew in staff to participate in the event.  >>Read more

For more information or an opportunity to join the program, please contact Jane Hwang at  [email protected]
Launch of "RAGS" Project to Improve Social Standards in the Indian Ready-Made Garment Sector 
With support from the UK Development Agency- DFID, RAGS will focus on home workers and gender discrimination


SAI is pleased to announce its selection as one of the grantees in the new project- "Responsible and Accountable Garment Sector (RAGS): Improving Social Standards in the Indian Ready Made Garment Sector," an initiative supported by DFID aimed at improving conditions of home workers, a predominately female sector, and gender and caste discrimination. SAI's work at the factory level will complement that of other grantees including the UK-based Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) and its grassroots partner the Indian National Homeworker Group (NHG), Monsoon, the ITGLWF, Tesco Stores Ltd., and Impactt Ltd. The 28-month project will have links with SAI's joint development partnership (PPP) in India with the BSCI and GTZ, and include  the participation of global retailers Gap Inc. and Timberland, who will engage a select group of their suppliers based in India.

The project, launched at a November meeting in London, addresses the big concern that, while garment export has fueled economic growth in scores of developing countries and  created over 25 million jobs worldwide, maintaining decent working conditions remain a critical issue, with gender discrimination, excessive working hours, and safety violations commonplace. >>Learn more

Click here to download Project Summary: RAGS- Improving Social Standards in the Indian Ready-Made Garment Sector [PDF, 90KB]

To learn more about SAI's work in India, click here
To learn more about DFID's RAGS project, click here


For more information, contact SAI Communications & Development Coordinator, Joleen Ong- [email protected]
SAI & Eileen Fisher Coordinate Workshop with Suppliers in China
"Improving Your Company's Business & Social Fingerprint™"

During a group exercise, participants sketch their life journey to their current work, and their personal connection to the environment.
On November 11-12, 2010, SAI Lead Trainer Mike Lee worked in collaboration with apparel company, Eileen Fisher, to lead a training workshop, "Improving Your Company's Business & Social Fingerprint™" in Shenzhen, China.  37 participants, representing all seven of Eileen Fisher's supplier factories in China, as well as several of Eileen Fisher's Hong Kong sourcing agents, engaged in this workshop.

Day one focused on human rights, and the second day focused on the environment. As Eileen Fisher is a Signatory SAI Corporate Program member; SAI tailored the workshop curriculum for the first day to both give a thorough introduction to social compliance, as well as build on suppliers' experiences through group exercises.

Eileen Fisher's business culture was infused in the training: the meeting started off with a moment of silence to proceed with a fresh mind; core messages of Eileen Fisher business practices and culture--such as brand reshaping and support of women and girls-- were presented by Eileen Fisher's Director of Corporate Social Consciousness, Amy Hall, and Vice President of Manufacturing Susan Young. >>Read more

Click here to learn more about Eileen Fisher's relationship with its vendors, an interview with Ms. Hall from the November 2010 newsletter

For more information, please contact SAI Communications & Development Coordinator, Joleen Ong- [email protected].
SAI, SAAS & Fair Trade USA Collaborate on Training to Support New Fair Trade Apparel Initiative
Auditor Training Workshop Seeks to Help Streamline SA8000 and Fair Trade Certification

Bottom, second from left: Badri Gulur, SAAS Senior Lead Auditor, and Meghan Quinlan, Fair Trade USA Director of Certification Programs, stands with workshop participants after a full-day of training in Mumbai for SAAS-accredited certification bodies.
On December 2, 2010 in Mumbai, India, SAAS Senior Lead Auditor Badri Gulur led a customized auditor training workshop on the SA8000™ standard and Fair Trade USA Obligations of Cut-Make-Trim Facilities. This training was the next step of SAAS and Fair Trade USA's (formerly TransFair USA) pilot project to develop a joint audit program to enable garment producers to achieve SA8000™ and Fair Trade certifications through a streamlined audit program.

The workshop was attended by eleven participants representing six SAAS-accredited certification bodies- TUV SUD, ALGI, TUV Nord, Bureau Veritas, BSI, and RINA. Meghan Quinlan, Fair Trade USA Director of Certification Programs,  presented the Fair Trade Apparel program to participants. >>Read more

For more information, contact [email protected]
Click here to read the initial article on this pilot project, from SAI's April 2010 newsletter

Notes from the Field: Roundtable Dialogue on Sugar & Labor Rights in the Dominican Republic
Facing Challenges in the Sugarcane Sector, Producers Meet to Discuss the Business of Improving the Industry in the Dominican Republic

A colono (sugarcane producer) discusses his views on labor inspection protocols for the agricultural sector with the DR's Ministry of Labor, as meeting participants such as Maximo Mercedes (center), Member of the Board of Directors of Colonos de Consuelo, listens intently.
On November 20, 2010 in Barahona, Dominican Republic, Elena Arengo (SAI's Director of Latin American Programs) met with 15 independent colonos (sugarcane producers) affiliated with the Asociaci�n de Colonos de Consuela (a regional federation of 500 colonos)-- to discuss their experiences in sugarcane production since working with SAI's Project Cultivar.

The sugarcane producers stated that one of the ways that Project Cultivar has strengthened their position in the local industry is through facilitation of their participation in mesas de di�logo, roundtable dialogues, hosted by the Dominican Ministry of Labor.  At these bi-monthly roundtables, colonos sit with corporations and government officials to discuss ways to address the industry's lack of compliance with international labor standards.

Maximo Mercedes, Member of the Board of Directors of Colonos de Consuelo, stated, "We have to address this in the roundtable meetings.  That is what Project Cultivar gives us...with this project, we place the issue in the hands of those responsible for resolving it- the state." >>Read more

For more information, contact SAI Program Associate, Eliza Wright- [email protected].
From New York to Sweden: SAI's Craig Moss Leads Interactive Presentation on SA8000
The Presentation "Implementing a Socially Responsible Supply Chain" Streamed Live

On November 30, Craig Moss, Director of Corporate Programs & Training, led an interactive presentation entitled "Implementing a Socially Responsible Supply Chain" for the Sustainable Purchasing Workgroup of the CSR V�stsverige (CSR West Sweden) Association. Streaming live to meeting participants in G�teborg, Sweden from SAI headquarters in New York, this 2-hour on-line presentation covered trends in the socially responsible supply chain, elements and advantages of SA8000™, business benefits of improved social compliance, introduction to the Social FingerprintProgram, and getting started with management systems and building internal compliance teams. 

Jean-Dominique Rugiero, the Working Group's Project Coordinator, noted, "We were very satisfied with Mr. Moss' expertise and presentation. Despite the fact that our members were each at different level of sustainable procurement practice, everyone found the presentation of great value. And exciting to hear about SAI Social Fingerprint™ program too!"
>>Read more

For more information, contact Kate Critchell, Assistant Manager of Corporate Programs & Training at [email protected].

Highlights & Announcements
Participants at SAI's CSR Awareness Seminar in Adu Dhabi, UAE on November 10, 2010

November 2010- New ISO26000 Guidance Standard Multimedia News Release Access the news release of the launch event which includes video footage of the presentations, interviews, as well as stakeholders who contributed to its development.

Photo from the inaugural meeting of the ISEAL Stakeholder Council., December 13-14 [From left: Alice Tepper Marlin, SAI; Rob Cameron, FLO; Carsten Schmitz-Hoffman, GTZ; Patrick Mallet, ISEAL Alliance; Daniela Mariuzzo, Rabobank International Brazil (on screen); Mirelle Perrin Decorzent, WWF; Jan Kees Vis, Unilever; Tensie Whelan, Rainforest Alliance]
November 2010- SAI President Alice Tepper Marlin is an Advisory Member of the ISEAL Alliance Stakeholder Council The Council brings together leading individuals from business, government, civil society and standards systems who have the knowledge and experience with voluntary standards, to provide a broader perspective on the development and adoption of ISEAL's credibility tools. The inaugural meeting convened on December 13-14 outside Washington, D.C.

Simona Apostol from Floyd, the hosting organization for SAI's SA8000 Awareness Seminar in Bucharest, Romania on November 11-12, 2010.
November 30- CIPE Publishes Abridged Article on Spring 2010 Joint Case Study  A new article in the CIPE online information site summarizes, "From Principles to Practice: The Role of SA8000 in Implementing the UN Global Compact"- released at the UNGC Leaders Summit 2010. This joint case study between CIPE, SAI and the UNGC featured six case studies of companies from around the world that use SA8000™ as a tool to meet their UNGC commitments.

November 11-12- SA8000™ Awareness Seminar in Bucharest, Romania,
was co-hosted by Floyd and SAI with 20 participants in attendance from a host of different organizations and consulting firms throughout Romania.

December 2010-
Draft Guiding Principles for Business & Human Rights- Open for Consultation until January 31, 2011 The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Business and Human Rights, Professor John Ruggie, posted the draft "Guiding Principles for the Implementation of the UN 'Protect, Respect and Remedy' Framework" to an online consultation forum.