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means a perfect score.
A rating scheme may emerge in which clothing companies choosing to join agree to an independent audit in randomly selected factories every two years. Factory workers could rate their employment conditions and managers the company's purchasing practices. The result would be an ethical score, printed on every price tag. Of course, only the more progressive companies would sign up but that would be a start in letting consumers know
which ones they are.In the absence of an ethical scorecard, some suggest boycotts. That is no solution. Garment workers would lose their jobs, making their families suffer. Also, it is not always obvious who to boycott or where to shop instead.
So what is the ethical thing to do? For a start, buy fair trade labelled products to let retailers know that you are aware, you care and are ready to pay for it. Most fairtrade products are foods but some leading clothes brands plan to launch such lines this year.
Do not underestimate the power of the personal letter. Write to the chief executives of your favourite brands and ask what they do to ensure decent
labour standards throughout their supply chains. Raise the issue on the shop floor: ask shop assistants if their company has a code of conduct on
labour standards and ask to see a copy of it.Above all, don't be apathetic. Ethical trade has come a long way in the past 10 years. Although we cannot yet vote with our wallets, we can at least demand the information we need so that one day we can. Keep trying on the clothes but start asking the ethical questions, too.
Next Question
Next Reading
1) How do clothing companies' demands for faster, cheaper, and more flexible production affect labor standards?A. They have no impact on labor standards.
B. They lead to the enforcement of better worker rights.
C. They undermine the labor standards they claim to promote.
D. They promote decent working conditions and fair wages.
2) What is the purpose of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI)?A. To rate clothing companies' products based on their prices.To encourage boycotts of non-ethical clothing companies.
To randomly audit factories for independent compliance
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