Ethical trading
Ethical trading and developing countries
As a founder member of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) we strive towards high labour standards throughout our supply chain by using the ETI Base Code as the standard with which our suppliers must comply.
The code states that workers must have a workplace where:
- Employment is freely chosen
- Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining are respected
- Working conditions are safe and hygienic
- Child labour is not used
- Living wages are paid
- Working hours are not excessive
- No discrimination is practised
- Regular employment is provided
- No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed
We uphold and enforce standards laid down by law and by the ETI
Besides our normal annual audit programme for all Bangladeshi factories making Tesco brand products, we also completed unannounced audits at all 48 sites last year.
One of the hallmarks of Tesco's ethical trading policy is that our audit programme is proactive, not reactive. Our audits are the most thorough independent audits carried out anywhere in the world.
We have written to all of our suppliers to encourage ethical trading and to ensure that they all know and comply with the legal requirements for labour standards in Ireland.
Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (Sedex)
We also encourage our suppliers to become members of the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (Sedex) – an organisation for businesses committed to improving the ethical performance of their supply chains. Sedex is a not-for-profit organisation that provides a web-based database of information on labour standards compliance. By enabling suppliers to share this ethical data with retailers the Sedex system helps to drive convergence on standards, and helps to reduce the cost and duplication of ethical audits for suppliers.
