Today, that motivation necessitated creating a shared vision for policy.

“Regulatory efforts often run the risk of not taking sufficient account of the actual impact on the stakeholders concerned. In the case of our industry, we are seeing a huge disconnect between knowledge and needs for manufacturers, and thus workers are left in the fray,” shared Elisabeth von Reitzenstein, Senior Director of policy and public affairs at Cascale. “Especially in the area of human rights due diligence, policymakers are increasingly looking to our organizations, and those like Policy Hub, to help identify leading industry tools – such as SLCP’s Convergence Assessment Framework (CAF) and the Higg FSLM – into supporting policy implementation. By driving acceptance and advocating for the integration of such tools and data  insights into broader regulatory frameworks, we are paving the way for a shared vision of social responsibility.”

Ever since global textile, apparel, and footwear industries began off-shoring production and out-sourcing labor in the late 1970s, the quest for fair wages, decent working conditions, and equitable treatment for millions of workers (the majority of whom are women) became increasingly fragmented and complex. Add to that transformation the recent push for legislation, and there is a sizable challenge ahead.

In this fight for social and labor rights, collaboration between industry players, policymakers, and other stakeholders to align on social responsibility standards has never been more important. It’s why SLCP and Cascale have strengthened ties.

“Through our joint work with Cascale, we are helping global supply chain actors prioritize social compliance and labor standards so that they are continuously adapting to new frameworks and legal requirements,” said Tom Mason, Senior policy and stakeholder engagement Manager at SLCP. “Our combined efforts are aimed towards keeping suppliers involved in the evolving policy discussions that impact them. Together with Cascale, we combine legislative analysis, gap analysis, expert feedback, and continuous updates to ensure SLCP assessments seamlessly adapt to evolving regulations, creating a more actionable approach to human rights due diligence.”

In February, SLCP and Cascale deepened their strategic collaboration to better align the tools and strategies for improved global working conditions. In their recent shared vision statement on public affairs, SLCP and Cascale outlined a collaborative strategy to enhance policy engagement and advocate for improved working conditions in the global textile, apparel, footwear, and consumer goods industries. Key initiatives include regular strategic touchpoints to align tools, regulations, and messaging, as well as educating SLCP signatories and Cascale members on social policy developments. This can include cross-participation in various webinars, meetings, or roundtable discussions. Overall, the collaboration aims to amplify co-developed positions, promote joint events and engagements, and advocate for the adoption of CAF–Higg FSLM data in social policy frameworks.

The framework is already making a difference for data collection efforts and a positive impact in reshaping power imbalances. More than 13,000 facilities across 50 countries adopted the CAF, unlocking an estimated $26 million annually in savings by reducing duplicative audits and alleviating excess burden on manufacturers. In 2023, over 9,000 facilities reported legal non-compliance data to CAF, with 94 percent of assessments identifying at least one non-compliance. The most common issues related to health and safety, working hours, and wages and benefits. While the data showed year-on-year improvement, smaller facilities faced higher instances of non-compliance due to resource constraints.

Outlining their support for greater policy alignment, one CAF–Higg FSLM user shared how the framework has paid off for their business.

Reflecting on the task ahead, Cascale’s von Reitzenstein summarized, “Everyone has a role in ensuring policy evolves with decent work as a priority. Through this strengthened collaboration with SLCP, we are standing by our commitment to mutual learning, tools empowerment, and an equal share of voice in this endeavor.”

Read the full joint public affairs vision statement now