Last Updated: 2024.03.22
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We deepen our understanding of global social issues and work to improve our business practices through dialogue with international NPOs, NGOs, and other stakeholders. We are committed to helping solve apparel industry issues that cannot be addressed by any one single company. To this end, we form partnerships and engage in activities with a variety of industry groups.
Collaboration with External Organizations
Fast Retailing works with a number of organizations and programs, the most important of which we have listed below.
| Name | Date Joined | Mission | Main Activities |
|---|---|---|---|
International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry (formerly Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh ("Accord")) |
August 2013 |
A legally binding agreement with independent oversight established in September 2021. Developed in cooperation between brands and unions. As with the previous Accord, the International Accord will continue to protect the safety of at-risk workers in Bangladesh and, also aims to expand in scope in the future to include other manufacturing countries. |
Provide support for stronger garment factory management, including fire prevention, electrical safety, building safety inspections, and the establishment of factory health and safety committees. The Accord provides hotlines for factory workers to report safety problems and training related to fire and building safety. |
Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) |
September 2014 |
A group of major companies in the apparel, footwear, and textile industries working together to address global environment and social issues. |
Develop and disseminate standard industry tools (HIGG index) to measure the environmental and social impact of supply chain activities. |
Fair Labor Association (FLA) |
July 2015 |
Protect the rights of workers through corporate, citizen group, and university collaboration, bringing labor environments into conformity with international standards. |
Provide support to member brands and factories in adopting FLA labor environment standards throughout the entire supply chain. Evaluate the monitoring activities of member brands and factories related to labor conditions; provide guidance for improvement. Encourage cooperation among stakeholders, including member brands, factories, and citizen groups to tackle issues related to labor conditions. |
Better Work |
December 2015 |
A joint program between International Labor Organization (ILO) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group serves as a center for collaboration among governments, global brands, factory managers, labor unions, factory workers, and other corporations, groups and individuals. The program strengthens the stability and competitiveness across the supply chain for the apparel and footwear industries, while ensuring the rights of factory workers and improving labor conditions. |
Conduct special-purpose audits, provide training and guidance for improvement among member factories. Encourage stronger policies and systems for labor condition management. Leverage the expertise gained from local activities in each country to provide support for policies and planning in each country. |
International Labour Organization (ILO) |
August 2019 |
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is the United Nations agency for the world of work.
|
Devoted to advancing social justice, it promotes a Decent Work Agenda based on four strategic pillars: rights at work, decent employment opportunities, social protection and social dialogue. |
Stakeholder Engagement Process
Fast Retailing stakeholders include company employees, workers and their representatives at our partner factories, community members around our stores and supply chains, and organizations everywhere that work to protect human and worker rights and the environment.
We regularly consult key stakeholders proactively to understand emerging issues and to devise informed solutions that address risk or mitigate impact on vulnerable peoples.
For example, with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), we are mapping and screening local NGOs that can support foreign migrant workers while employed at our partner factories or to facilitate a return to their home countries in cases where a concern is raised via our anonymous hotline that requires specialist expertise.
We place great value on the independent insight and input of stakeholders to improve our strategies and programs. The frequency of our dialogue with each stakeholder depends on the nature of the issue we are addressing together.
Also, Fast Retailing ensures that stakeholders can access information on how the company addresses its human rights impacts, through its website and via those of independent organizations, such as the FLA. Stakeholders can also obtain information through our customer centers by phone, email or other communication tools.
International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry
In August 2013, Fast Retailing joined the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh (Accord) which was established to protect the safety of garment factory workers from building collapses and fire. We have worked to help partner factories establish health and safety committees as recommended by the Accord as part of its central aim to ensure safe workplaces.
In 2021, the Accord signatories renewed their partnership and established the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry (International Accord), which was also signed by Fast Retailing in September 2021. This agreement confirms the continued commitment of signatories to support workplace safety programs in Bangladesh through cooperation with the RMG Sustainability Council (RSC), a national tripartite organization governed by brands and retailers, trade unions, and manufacturing associations. The signatories to the International Accord further committed to exploring the expansion of its scope to include other human rights due diligence responsibilities.
In May 2023, Fast Retailing also signed the Pakistan Accord on Health & Safety in the Textile & Garment Industry, which is a Country Specific Safety Program (CSSP) and an Addendum under the International Accord. The newly launched Pakistan Accord is a legally binding agreement with independent oversight, and the program will be implemented through close collaboration and involvement of the Pakistan government authorities and the manufacturing industry. Developed in cooperation between brands and unions, it will deliver increased safety for vulnerable manufacturing workers in Pakistan. As an early signatory to the Pakistan Accord, Fast Retailing underlines its strong and ongoing commitment to ensuring worker health and safety at the facilities of all our production partners where we conduct manufacturing.
Global Partnership For Social Protection and Improved Environments for Asian Workers （ILO）
In September 2019, Fast Retailing and the International Labour Organization (ILO) announced a partnership to improve social security systems and worker environments in Asia. From September 2019, Fast Retailing provided US$1.8 million in funding over a three-year period. The funds were invested in ILO research on labor markets and social security systems in Asian countries, as well as promoting employment insurance in Indonesia and strengthening worker support mechanisms during periods of unemployment.
Asia's workers, especially garment-manufacturing workers, are at high risk of job displacement due to the rapidly-shifting employment needs of the region's evolving economies. However, existing social protection schemes and labor market policies in the area often do not fully protect workers from risks of unemployment or from risk of hardship associated with protracted unemployment. Through this project, the ILO helped create momentum for this change, supporting government action toward the establishment of the scheme. As a result of such efforts, in November 2020, the Omnibus Law on Job Creation was issued in Indonesia and an employment insurance scheme to secure an income during periods of unemployment was added to the country's social security system. The Indonesian government began implementing unemployment benefits in February 2022.
In addition to this support, the ILO developed and delivered training for employment bureau staff and vocational counselors of the Ministry of Manpower who helped facilitate a return to work for people who unexpectedly lost their jobs. The ILO also provided technical support to broaden the range of skill and knowledge programs offered by public vocational training centers to facilitate reemployment. This included training for emergent industries in Indonesia, where reemployment prospects were growing, such as computer networking and animation production.
Related Links
Partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO)- More information about the work of the ILO/UNIQLO partnership in Indonesia
Furthermore, the ILO has been investigating the necessity and feasibility of social security system enhancement in other Asian countries. For instance, an initiative has been launched in Bangladesh to establish a scheme that provides income replacement for workers arising from employment-related injuries leading to death or permanent disability.
Launched in June 2022, the Pilot for the Employment Injury Scheme (EIS) marks the first ever scheme of its kind to protect workers from loss of income arising from workplace-related injuries in Bangladesh. Fast Retailing was among seven brands to offer early support for the EIS. By the end of 2023, a total of 46 persons benefitted from the scheme.
Related Links
- Partnership with ILO to Support Employment Injury Insurance Program for Workers in Bangladesh
- More information about EIS Pilot
