FAQ

1. What is SLCP?

SLCP – the Social and Labor Convergence Program – is a multi-stakeholder initiative that was established to tackle the issue of audit fatigue in supply chains, with an initial focus on the apparel & footwear sector. SLCP has developed and is now implementing a Converged Assessment Framework (CAF), designed to replace all proprietary social audit programs with one single assessment to collect and verify social and labor data. Facilities own their SLCP verified data and control how it is shared from the SLCP Gateway. Brands, standard holders, and other stakeholders can make use of SLCP’s credible and actionable verified data to determine compliance; as a tool in the due diligence process; and to inform remediation. By eliminating duplicative social audits, SLCP helps users to free-up resources currently spent on auditing, so that they can be redirected to improving working conditions.

2. What are the aims of SLCP?

SLCP aims to eliminate duplicative and repetitive social audits, and to provide high-quality data to stakeholders, through implementation of the Converged Assessment Framework (CAF). The program has four specific aims:

• Industry adoption: reach 25,000 verified assessments per year.
• Resources unlocked: potential to create annual audit savings of $134m that can be redirected to improvement actions.
• Data access and comparability: SLCP will be the number one source of trusted, comparable verified social and labor data in the apparel and footwear supply chain.
• Financial resilience: SLCP will be fully self-sustaining through earned income.

3. Why is SLCP needed?

Most stakeholders in our industry now agree: while the traditional approach to auditing has played a significant role in improving social and labor conditions over the past two decades, it has also led to a proliferation of different standards, codes and protocols, and in turn to a proliferation of audits. There is broad recognition that audits alone do not create systemic change. We have much further to go to create sustainable remediation. SLCP’s Converged Assessment Framework (CAF) will free up resources currently tied up in auditing and promote collaboration that will make tangible and lasting improvements to working conditions and workers’ lives.

4. Who is involved with SLCP?

SLCP has over 270 signatories, which includes over 50 leading brands and nearly 40 manufacturers, as well as a range of other stakeholders including audit firms, civil society groups, industry associations and many more. A full list of signatories is available on this page. SLCP is owned by its signatories and the Converged Assessment Framework (CAF) has been developed collectively, by and for the signatories. SLCP signatories have committed to the Signatory Charter, which includes a commitment to redirect any savings made through implementation of the Converged Assessment Framework to improving working conditions. Although SLCP is a signatory-driven organization, companies and organizations do not have to become signatories to use the CAF – it is open to all. Here you can find a list of all the brands, retailers and standard holders that publicly commit to accepting SLCP data instead of requesting a separate audit, and here you can find a list of some of the manufacturers that are implementing the CAF.

5. How does SLCP's Converged Assessment Framework work?

The Converged Assessment Framework includes a Data Collection Tool, a Verification Protocol and Guidance documents. Facilities complete the questions in the Data Collection Tool through a self-assessment (on their own) or a joint-assessment (with external support). This FAQ eexplains the type of data that is collected via the Data Collection Tool. An SLCP approved Verifier then verifies every answer provided by the facility in the self-assessment and provides corrected answers where necessary. The Verifier does not pass judgement on the data – they do not conclude if the data is good or bad, or if the facility has passed or failed. The outcome of the verification process is an actionable and credible verified data set. SLCP works with a Verification Oversight Organization which oversees the quality and integrity of the verification process and conducts a series of quality assurance activities. SLCP enables the facility to share their verified data via the SLCP Gateway and a network of Accredited Host platforms. The facility selects an Accredited Host platform to use for the assessment and verification process. Brands and other stakeholders select which Accredited Host platform they want to use to access the verified data. The Accredited Hosts can provide additional services to help stakeholders use the data (e.g. scoring/ mapping to a Code of Conduct/ identifying issues to build a remediation plan).

6. What is the Data Collection Tool in the CAF based on – what type of data is captured?

During SLCP’s development phase, SLCP signatories compared audit questions from 21 widely used systems (including brand, manufacturer, and audit firm proprietary tools, and tools developed by MSIs and standard holders) to ensure that the Converged Assessment Framework (CAF) covered all the critical questions and resulting data points. Based on common denominators, the Data Collection Tool was created, an extensive question set covering all key social and labor topics. At launch in 2019, 97% of audit information was covered in the Data Collection Tool compared to the most comprehensive tool. SLCP also worked closely with the OECD (who were part of the initial Steering Committee) to ensure that the Data Collection Tool – and the CAF as a whole - aligned with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for responsible business conduct.

Since launching, the CAF, including the Data Collection Tool, has been reviewed and updated several times (v1.1 – v1.3). In 2020, SLCP and the ILO Better Work program co-led a review of the Data Collection Tool to strengthen the alignment with International Labor Standards and National Labor Law, and to introduce “law overlays” for certain countries. Based on the experience and feedback of signatories and stakeholders who had been using the CAF since launch, SLCP was also able to reduce redundancies and repetitions in the Tool, reducing the overall number of data points by 30%, thus improving and simplifying the user experience. This work resulted in the launch of the CAF v1.4 in April 2021. In November 2022, SLCP launched the latest version of the CAF – version 1.5 – that further strengthens alignment with National Labor Law through the introduction of a small number of country specific questions in certain countries. The CAF v1.5 also introduced the option to use a Worker Engagement Technology survey alongside the SLCP assessment, and of full virtual verification in very limited circumstances.

Despite the reduction of data points, the Data Collection Tool remains a highly comprehensive tool that has a high level of compatibility with most social audit tools. The CAF is available on ITC’s Standards Map and SLCP recommends stakeholders use this tool to compare the CAF to other audit programs. For more information on the type of data captured in the Data Collection Tool, refer to this FAQ on our Helpdesk.

7. When did SLCP launch and where is it operating?

SLCP signatories developed the Converged Assessment Framework between the end of 2015 and the middle of 2018. The process involved several prototypes, pilots and consultations. At the end of 2018, SLCP ran a Light Operation in China and Sri Lanka to pressure test the full SLCP system. The Converged Assessment Framework was then updated to integrate the learnings and feedback received during Light Ops. SLCP officially relaunched in June 2019, at first in China & Taiwan, Sri Lanka and India. By the end of 2022, SLCP had rolled out to 60 countries and regions and over 9000 facilities were registered in the SLCP Gateway. Visit the SLCP Gateway for a full list of countries/regions where SLCP is available.

8. Does SLCP provide certification?

SLCP is not a standard and does not provide certification. The Converged Assessment Framework (CAF) is used to collect and verify social and labor data from facilities. The result is a verified data set indicating compliance with national labor laws and international labor standards, but without any scoring/ ranking. SLCP is compatible with existing standards. Brands and other stakeholders are able to apply their own scores or Code of Conduct to the SLCP verified data. The Accredited Hosts provide services to help brands use the SLCP verified data, such as scoring, mapping to a Code of Conduct, or identifying issues to build a corrective action plan.

9. Does SLCP include remediation/follow-up with the factory?

Remediation is not included in SLCP’s Converged Assessment Framework (CAF). However, the Accredited Hosts provide services to help brands and other stakeholders make use of SLCP verified data and, in many cases, this can include support to build a corrective action plan and follow-up with the facility. For more information about the services of the Accredited Hosts, visit this page.

10. How is SLCP funded?

SLCP achieved its strategic goal of becoming self-sustaining through earned income by 2021. Income is earned through volume-driven fees applied to the Verifier Bodies and the Accredited Hosts in the SLCP system.

During the development phase (2016-2018), SLCP received seed funding from the C&A Foundation matched with the final contribution from SAC; The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norges Bank Investment Management contributed in 2016 and 2017; and the majority of funding in 2018 originated from signatory donations. In 2019 and 2020, SLCP started to generate earned income (from verification and Accredited Host fees) and received grant funding from HSBC for training roll-out.

Since 2021, SLCP is covering all core expenses through earned income, and using grant funding only for innovative projects.

In 2022, we received funding from the Initiative for Global Solidarity (IGS), a program implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to accelerate further convergence and sector expansion. You can find out more here.