Monitoring and Auditing

A long-term auditing programme, which includes year on year increases in the percentage of the supply base audited are in place. In China we have our own internal auditors whilst outside China we use external auditors.

The audits cover all aspects of the Code and include confidential worker interviews, reviews of all relevant documents, a physical site inspection of both production sites and worker dormitories and interviews with management. In China we have experimented with more participatory methods of auditing involving a more active role for workers in order that workers’ voices are better heard. We are also members of SEDEX www.sedex.org.uk which is an online database that allows factories to share audits with all their buyers. As SEDEX members we do not simply accept others audits unless we feel sure they have been conducted to a sufficient standard of rigour.