The Ethical Trading Initiative’s (ETI) 10th anniversary conference is to look ahead to the next 10 years as a “time to get radical” in which it will be “no longer acceptable for companies to hide behind their audit reports”, it revealed this week.

The London event - named Ethical trade: the next decade - will be held on October 23.

Retailers, suppliers, agents, trade unions, NGOs and auditors involved in improving workers’ lives throughout the supply chain have all been encouraged to attend.

ETI director Dan Rees said: “The first decade of ethical trade put workers’ rights firmly on the map. Most retailers and brands now recognise their responsibility towards the workers who make their products. And ethical trade has moved out of the niche and into the mainstream - more than ever before, consumers are asking tough questions of companies about the workers who make their products, which we welcome.

“But although we are proud of the progress we have made, the scale and pace of change being achieved to the lives of millions of workers across the globe is not enough. We have picked all the low-hanging fruit now. It’s time to get radical. It’s no longer acceptable for companies to hide behind their audit reports - they need to drastically improve their business practices.”

Practical workshops will stimulate discussions on how to make a ‘living wage’ a reality for workers, and how companies can integrate ethical trade into their buying practices.

Gareth Thomas, minister for international development and trade at the department for international development (DFID) - which is a key supporter of ETI - is to speak at the event to highlight the importance of harnessing global trade for poverty reduction, and how the government intends to help drive forward ethical trade.

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