Landmark deal extends ASOS’ commitment to workers’ rights into global transport and logistics.
ASOS, the global fashion destination, has signed a legally-binding agreement with global trade union federation, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), to protect transport workers’ rights and enhance the safety, resilience and sustainability of its supply chains.
The partnership builds on ASOS’ long-standing leadership in embedding human rights across its business and supply chains, extending this commitment into transport and logistics.
Under a legally-binding human rights due diligence (HRDD) agreement, ASOS and the ITF will cooperate in conducting HRDD in ASOS’ transport operations and logistics, ensuring respect for human rights and sustainability throughout ASOS’ supply chains. ITF will support ASOS in its HRDD policy design, the identification, avoidance and mitigation of risk, and the determination of remedies if rights are violated.
ASOS and ITF will also engage with ASOS' brand partners to share resources and educational tools on HRDD relating to transport and logistics.
ITF General Secretary, Stephen Cotton, said: “ASOS has been leading the charge from businesses that demand better protection for people and planet through human rights due diligence. So, we’re delighted to team up with ASOS in order to raise the bar globally for the transport workers who keep our world moving.
“Agreements like this are helping the ITF to shift the dial on the protection of transport workers’ rights. But we can only do this in tandem with pioneering, progressive businesses like ASOS, who are ready to push far beyond the minimum of what’s legally required of them.”
ASOS and the ITF will also work together on climate change and gender equality – key issues affecting transport and logistics workers in both directly operated and subcontracted transport operations in ASOS’ global supply chain.
ASOS Chief Executive Officer, José Antonio Ramos Calamonte, said: “Enhancing the human rights of everyone involved in our value chain – from designing and making clothes, to warehousing, shipping and delivery – has been a core mission for ASOS for close to a decade. Our new agreement with ITF will enable us to take our work even further and extend our action to protecting and improving the human rights of workers in our transport and logistics supply chain, reducing risk and improving supply chain resilience while delivering positive change for the people supporting our business.”
Under the agreement, the following key elements will form the basis of the conduct of HRDD in ASOS’ transport operations and logistics:
- Meeting or exceeding the policies and practises outlined in the ITF Supply Chain Human Rights Principles and the ITF’s Eight Principles for Decent Work in Warehousing, Distribution and Logistics
- A monitoring and compliance mechanism based on worker-centred HRDD approaches, including the ITF’s HRDD Guidance
- Providing for or cooperating in remediation for rights violations, including when appropriate through collective bargaining with the ITF and/or its affiliated trade union members
- Creating an enabling environment for mature industrial relations in ASOS’ own operations and supply chains; where possible, granting the ITF and its affiliates access to transport and logistics suppliers and workplaces within ASOS’ supply chains
In addition, ASOS will consider the ITF as a ‘stakeholder’ for any relevant legislation, as regards the human rights of transport and logistics workers in ASOS’ directly operated and subcontracted supply chain transport operations. ASOS also commits, where possible, to join the ITF in its national and international advocacy for high standards in transport supply chains.
“There’s no doubt that ASOS is leading the way in ensuring rights are protected in the ‘goods not for resale’ (GNFR) part of its supply chain,” added Cotton. “Many businesses are far too slow at prioritising GNFR and what it can mean for protecting millions of workers worldwide from rights abuses. But when a retailer like ASOS takes a lead on this, it sends a clear message for other business to step up to the plate.”
Notes
- Under the terms of the agreement, ASOS and the ITF will form a joint technical working group which will meet twice-yearly to ensure that the mutual responsibilities and goals of the agreement are met
- ASOS is one of 50 business and investors to call for a new UK human rights due diligence law, see here
- See here for the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights; here for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct; here for the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy; here for the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work
- See here to access the ITF’s Supply Chain Human Rights Principles
- See here to access the ITF’s Maritime HRDD Guidance
- See here for the ITF’s supply chain due diligence agreement with TFG Group, and here for the ITF’s agreement with New Look
About ASOS: Founded in 2000, ASOS has 18m active customers in over 200 markets. We bring fashion lovers around the world the best and most relevant fashion through our unique own brands including ASOS DESIGN, ARRANGE, COLLUSION, Topshop, and Topman, styled with the most exciting products from local and global partner brands. With our expert in-house design team and agile and flexible commercial model, including ASOS Fulfilment Services, Partner Fulfils, and Test & React, we make the latest trends accessible to all and give customers the confidence to be whoever they want to be.
About the ITF: The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is a democratic, affiliate-led federation of transport workers’ unions recognised as the world’s leading transport authority. We fight passionately to improve working lives, connecting trade unions and workers’ networks from 147 countries to secure rights, equality and justice for their members. We are the voice of 16.5 million transport workers who move the world.
Media contact, ITF: Mark Dearn +44 7738 832 413 media@itf.org.uk
Media contact, ASOS: press@asos.com
