Doesn’t that show they’re taking their responsiblities seriously?
• A company’s membership of the ETI is no guarantee that conditions for its workers are acceptable. Retailers do not have to meet minimum standards to be members – they just have to commit to working towards these standards. This means membership of the ETI is only the start of any efforts to improve conditions — not the final point. • Ultimately, the impact of the ETI is determined by the activities of its members. Unfortunately they’re not doing enough: a 2006 evaluation of the ETI found that it had so far had only a limited impact on supply chain conditions. The evaluation highlighted the double standards of companies, finding that the promotion of ethical trade was undermined by their other business practices.
