Waitrose is to raise the bar in ethical trading by giving its suppliers practical advice to support improved labour standards across the world.
The retailer has issued copies of a new Responsible Sourcing Workbook to 700 of its key own brand and exclusive suppliers.
The manual is designed to provide practical assistance to production site managers around responsible sourcing issues, ranging from improving worker welfare to minimising impact on the environment.
It also contains best practice case studies and helps suppliers identify areas for improvement.
The workbook, which is intended to complement the John Lewis Partnership’s Responsible Sourcing Code of Practice, sets out expectations on issues such as pay, working hours, child labour, worker rights and representation, the environment and animal welfare.
Nick Monger Godfrey, head of Social Responsibility for the John Lewis Partnership, said: “At Waitrose we pride ourselves on working closely with our suppliers to develop robust standards and ensuring the people who make our food are treated fairly and with respect.
“However, we are never complacent, and this new manual will help our suppliers look closely at their own workplace practices with the aim of further raising standards.”
The manual will be publicly available from http://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/ourresponsibilities.
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