The Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI): A Critical Perspective

The Clean Clothes Campaign just released a 20 page paper providing a critical perspective of the so-called Business Social Compliance (BSCI) Initiative, which was launched in Brussels on 30 November 2004. Under the aegis of some of Europe’s largest retailers, this initiative sets out to audit and monitor the social performance of their suppliers world-wide by utilising one common system. It is intended as a sector-solution for retail, but it is also open to any and all European and non-European companies or associations. Since the BSCI aims to become a major monitoring initiative, which has already attracted several of Europe’s largest retailers, there is a great need for more background information. This document is a first attempt at supplying this essential information and clearly outlines the many weaknesses of this industry controlled auditing initiative. Download now from:

69kb) The Business Social Compliance Initiative - A Critical Perspective