CODE OF CONDUCT AUDIT
Burcu Ayvali, who works with Code of Conduct (CoC), tells us how a typical visit at a suppliers’ factory in Turkey takes place.
Bestseller takes responsibility for how the production is carried out all over the world and we want to make sure the factories live up to Bestseller’s Code of Conduct, so that the workers have acceptable and humane working conditions. Thereby we make sure that they receive all of the social rights granted by local work laws as well as the minimum standards requested by Bestseller.
How is the procedure when carrying out an audit?
Before the audit I talk to the CoC responsible at the factory, and I inform him or her about which documents need to be ready for the audit. When I arrive at the factory, I am often received with a welcoming attitude, as most of the suppliers have respect for Bestseller and want to improve the co-operation. I start out by telling them the agenda for the day, and then I start checking out the physical conditions.
Afterwards, I take a look at their company records, and make interviews with randomly picked workers to make sure that their comments about the job and the tasks they carry out are in accordance with the management’s comments as well as the factory records. For example, if the manager and the records say that there is never any need for overtime at the factory, I ask the workers whether they ever work overtime. If they tell me that overtime does occur, and maybe even on a regular basis, we have to do our best to make sure that everything is in order. At the end of the visit, I list the areas that need improvement and I fill out a report based on what I have seen, and finally I work out a development plan and a deadline together with the factory’s CoC responsible.
What are the most common problems when you carry out an audit?
The most common problem in Turkey concerns Social Security. The sub-suppliers’ workshops are often very small employing less than fifty workers, who usually work a few months here and there. This instability discourages the workshop owners to cover these workers with Social Security.
Another problem is that some of the suppliers think that they are only responsible for the part of the production which physically takes place in their own factory. But we want them to take responsibility for the entire production regardless of the physical production place. Getting them to take this responsibility is an ongoing process, but it is definitely worth it because it gets so much easier to get good results.
What happens after the audit?
When the audit is completed, I e-mail a “Factory Inspection Feedback” to the supplier and tell them the outcome of the audit. The feedback includes a list of areas that need to be improved, the total rating the factory received, and a new date for a follow-up visit which I make to be sure that all the improvements are done. After this, the Code of Conduct report and the development plan are uploaded on the portal where we keep a record of the supplier’s social compliance activity.
When is an audit successful – according to you?
When a supplier receives a “green rating”, it is always very rewarding to both the supplier and to me. It is a lot of hard work for them as well as for me. It takes time and financial input on the supplier’s side, but at the same time it is very rewarding when we see the results. Also, the workers are always appreciative when they experience firsthand that the company they produce for cares about them.
The CoC team constantly works in co-operation with Bestseller’s suppliers and we are often able to make a big difference for the worker’s health, safety, and social conditions. If the supplier has the right attitude and is willing to cooperate with us on social responsibility, our chance of making a difference is so much greater.