SLCP and IAF partner to advance industry collaboration in tackling audit fatigue
The Social & Labor Convergence Program (SLCP) and the International Apparel Federation (IAF) have formalized a strategic collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to address one of apparel industry’s most pressing challenges: audit fatigue.
IAF, the world’s leading federation representing apparel manufacturers, SME brands, their associations, and the wider supply chain, brings a global network spanning over 100,000 companies across more than 40 countries. SLCP contributes deep technical expertise in implementing converged social and labor assessments. Together, the two organizations are aligning efforts to scale and strengthen solutions to streamline assessments and reduce audit duplication.
“Audit fatigue has held our industry back for far too long and reducing it requires coordinated industry-wide efforts. Our collaboration with SLCP is built on a shared commitment to reduce duplication and drive convergence. By working together, we can ease the burden on manufacturers and also ensure more space for manufacturers to be involved in the design and roll out of SLCP’s solutions.”
The collaboration opens up valuable opportunities to share critical industry knowledge and engage shared stakeholder bases. Key joint initiatives include alignment with platforms like the Sustainable Terms of Trade Initiative (STTI) and the Standards Convergence Initiative (SCI), promoting further convergence and responsible purchasing practices.
“Partnering with IAF marks a significant step forward in our mission to drive convergence in social and labor assessments. IAF’s industry reach makes them a critical partner in tackling audit fatigue at scale, enabling more streamlined efforts towards meaningful improvements in working conditions”
Through ongoing strategic dialogue and coordinated communication that amplifies shared priorities across the industry, this partnership will help evolve the industry’s approach to social and labor assessments and drive impactful solutions. With aligned visions, SLCP and IAF are committed to shifting resources away from repetitive audits toward meaningful improvements in working conditions worldwide.
