Tesco agreement

The Community union has reached what it calls a “ground breaking partnership agreement” with retail giant Tesco to improve worker representation and conditions in its UK garment supply chain.

The aim is to combat a range of problems existing in the UK garment sector, including non-payment of the minimum wage, excessive working hours and worker abuse.

The agreement states that Tesco is “determined to ensure that these issues do not occur in its supply chain, and to support its suppliers to manage responsible workplaces”.

The agreement will see both organisations working together to identify areas for improvement, carrying out joint assessments and developing improvement plans for UK garment manufacturers.

Suppliers will be challenged to achieve improved performance on these problems, which also include illegal deductions from earnings, fraudulent declaration of earnings and unauthorised sub-contracting.

Tesco will supply experts to undertake ethical audits of its UK garment supply base, and Community will participate in this, leading it in some areas and ensuring workers have access to representation.

Community general secretary Roy Rickhaus said: “We believe that Tesco are genuinely committed to ethical trade and improving conditions in its UK garment supply chain. That’s why we have developed this groundbreaking agreement that will use the skills and expertise of both our organisations to ensure that happens.”

www.community-tu.org/media/130663/Tesco%20Community%20final%20draft%203-12-14.pdf