The world’s largest fashion e-tailer, ASOS, has joined the nonprofit GoodWeave International to assist its efforts to eradicate child, forced, and bonded labour from global supply chains.
In late 2023, ASOS announced that it would start selling a few select items that adhere to the GoodWeave Standard, with a particular focus on fashion accessory and garment suppliers in India.
Three key ASOS suppliers from India who export clothing and accessories for the fashion industry will join the initiative, and more suppliers will be added in the coming months, the store said.
Each supplier “shall undergo audits and unannounced inspections” conducted by devoted GoodWeave personnel trained to spot potential hazards and issues related to forced, bonded, and child labour.
The Center for Child Rights and Business in China is one of the NGOs ASOS has partnered with to work in this area. “The new evaluation complements ASOS’s current strategy to assessing and managing risks of child labour and modern slavery through auditing and local involvement,” ASOS said.
There can be no place for forced, bonded, or child labour in the fashion industry, but these hazards are always there in intricate global supply chains, said Adil Rehman, the company’s head of ethical trade. With this new relationship with GoodWeave, we’re advancing our efforts to combat modern slavery and promote ethical commerce through assurance and thorough supply chain mapping, which will help us make sure that workers are safeguarded and their rights are upheld.
