Ethical Auditing/Independent Monitoring and Corrective Solution Providers in Social Compliance

IRFT conducts audits that are transparent, participative in their approach and believes in building a sustainable relationship based on trust with its clients. We conduct social/ethical audits of domestic supply chains of multinational companies within India, to make sure that the code of conduct set by the International Labour Organization’s convention on Employment Standards and various National legislations is met appropriately.

Over 600 Ethical Audits have been performed in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the UK to assess factory compliance with local and international labour, health, safety and environmental regulations, Brand company codes and industry best practices. We have also conducted Fair Trade Assessment as per Fair Trade Labeling Organization (FLO) requirements based on the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) base code.

IRFT’s monitoring Programme is tailored to meet international standards including Social Accountability International, codes of brands etc. We are accredited as an Independent External Monitor by the US based Fair Labor Association (FLA) to monitor the full FLA code in India. We are also approved monitors for Levi Strauss & Co. and NIKE.

Standard Setting & Training by Providing Services for any Compliance Enquiries

IRFT has experience in developing standards and has delivered training programmes for business sector clients in compliance related issues. IRFT has been involved in developing standards for agriculture (Seed manufacturing) and a monitoring instrument and toolkit on behalf of the Fair Labour Association (FLA).

Trainings on Generic Fair Trade Compliance

IRFT conducts trainings on Fair Trade Principles and Practices among educational Institutions, corporates/businesses and small-scale producer groups. We recently conducted a training programme on ‘Fair Trade Compliance, Standards and Codes of Conduct’ at the Crafts Development Institute (CDI) in Srinagar.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

We work with mainstream businesses to support them in design and implementation of their CSR programmes. We value the contribution of socially responsible businesses that wish to promote the triple bottom line. We assess needs, find gaps and suggest immovable solutions so that CSR efforts are channelled to benefit society at large. Some of the organisations with whom we have been involved with are NTPC, Gujarat Ambuja Cement Ltd. (Ambuja Foundation), and the Bombay Chamber of Commerce.

Business Social Responsibilities

IRFT works on projects and with partners to impact social change and social initiatives within the mainstream business objectives of the organization to meet the long term business goals.

Syngenta

The Fair Labor Association (FLA) engaged IRFT in developing monitoring instruments and pilot field audits for two years for Syngenta Seeds Inc. for the okra crop in Gujarat. Post audit, various remedial strategies on Labour Monitoring of the agricultural sector were discussed in a consultation workshop in Hyderabad in December 2008. Syngenta then approached IRFT to help build capacity of their staff and farmers/ growers in social compliance (FLA- COC) in the three states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka. IRFT developed creative communications tools to motivate staff, farmers, and organizers of the Syngenta seed production business.

Project on Social Responsibility in Leather and Textile/Garment sector in India

Working conditions in textile, clothing, and leather industries are all too famous for often running under conditions breaching minimum social standards as a whole. In many garment and sport-shoes producing countries, the organized Civil Society generally supports initiatives from Northern Countries organisations aiming to back local undertakings with a view to make social conditions improve. However, the Southern organisations quite rightly consider that initiatives emanating from foreign countries are not to be used as an alternative to substitute for their legitimate role.

That’s why the Collective De l’ethique sur l’etiquette is in the process of in-depth dialogue with such organizations to make expertise sharing fulfill expectations. As part of this work the collective engaged IRFT to carry out a survey in India. This survey was aimed at collecting analysis and recommendations from various Indian partners.

SafeFood India Project

International trade in high-value food products such as fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, fish, meat, nuts and spices has expanded enormously in the last twenty-five years. However, there is also an increase in the consumer concern about food safety due to the recent food scares regarding contamination of food with banned dyes, chemicals, pesticides and the links between animal and human disease. This has led to stringent product regulations and additional quality requirements, which are not necessarily required under the law but are being imposed by the buyers.

FAKT Germany, with its experience in the field of designing and conducting food quality management coursers in collaboration with IRFT India, Traidcraft Exchange UK, envisaged a project to build capacities in the food industry to establish suitable food safety and quality management systems that strengthen the export capacities of the Indian SMEs.