The Maquila Solidarity network published a next issue of their "codes update memo", this one is a special report on the latest developments with the FLA. The complete text will be put on our website, or send an email to info@maquilasolidarity.org

FLA APPROVES SEVEN COMPANIES, ACCREDITS EXTERNAL MONITOR

On January 23, the Fair Labor Association (FLA) announced that it had approved seven major brand-name apparel and sports shoe companies to participate in its monitoring program. Those companies are: Nike, Reebok (for footwear only), Levi Strauss, Liz Claiborne, adidas-Salomon, Gear for Sports, and Patagonia. Two other major companies, Phillips-Van Heusen (P-VH) and Eddie Bauer, are reportedly “in the final stages of the application process.”

The FLA also announced that it had accredited the US non-profit organization Verité as its first “independent external monitor.” Verité is accredited to monitor compliance with the FLA code of conduct in Bangladesh, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mauritius, the Philippines, Saipan, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Mexico and the US. This past week a second NGO was accredited Phulki, in Bangladesh.

Note that monitors are accredited by country or geographic area and/or to carry out external monitoring of specific components of the FLA code of conduct. Thus an NGO or commercial social auditing firm could be accredited to monitor in a particular country or region. Monitors can be accredited to monitor the whole FLA code or specific section of the code, for instance the health and safety components.

In February, the Guatemalan independent monitoring group COVERCO (Commission for the Verification of Corporate Codes of Conduct / Comision de Verificacion de Codigos de Conducta) announced that it has applied to become an FLA-accredited external monitor in Guatemala.