Fair Labor Accreditation Frequently Asked Questions

Fair Labor Accreditation demonstrates that a company has processes in place to prevent, identify, and remediate labor abuses across its in-scope supply chain in alignment with international human rights frameworks. It does not mean that labor violations never occur in the production of a company’s products, but rather that the company is committed to eliminating, as far as possible, any violations and providing access to remedy should they occur.  

Fair Labor Accreditation sets a manufacturing company on a concrete path to improving labor conditions in its Tier One and owned manufacturers, focusing on the key building blocks companies need for an effective human rights due diligence program that improves working conditions and worker well-being in factories.  

Fair Labor Accreditation for agriculture companies is designed to verify and strengthen working conditions in the agricultural tiers of a company’s global supply chain, with a focus on traceability of high-risk commodities across countries of operation. Agriculture benchmarks recognize the special circumstances of agriculture work, which ranges from farms with informal labor structures to farms that have formal employment relationships. 

FLA members allow independent assessments and monitoring of their supply chain as part of an organizational commitment to upholding fair labor standards through transparency.

Each year, FLA audits an agreed percentage of a company’s Tier One (manufacturing program) or Tier Four (agriculture program) supply chain. The results of the assessments, as well as the degree to which the company has successfully remediated any findings, is included in each Fair Labor Accreditation report.

In addition to our own independent assessments, FLA also asks companies to provide examples of their internal audits for review. In countries or regions where FLA cannot conduct our own independent assessments and monitoring activities at the factory level, FLA requests additional samples of internal audits for review. Currently, China is the only country where FLA is restricted from conducting assessments.

Manufacturing companies are expected to earn Fair Labor Accreditation within three to five years of becoming an FLA member. Due to the complex and highly varied nature of agriculture supply chains, Fair Labor Accreditation for agriculture companies may take significantly longer. 

Companies are assessed annually through Milestone 5 Post-Accreditation Reports, which verify that they are maintaining alignment with FLA standards and principles. Milestone 5 evaluations follow a three-year cycle, with three principles evaluated each year. (Launched in 2023, annual Milestone 5 evaluations replace FLA’s previous approach of reaccreditation.) 

In addition, all farms and factories used by FLA member companies or affiliates participating in FLA’s knowledge-building programs are subject to Fair Labor Investigations, which allow third parties, FLA members, or FLA itself to launch an investigation of alleged persistent or serious noncompliance with FLA standards. This requirement continues post-accreditation. 

Pursuit of Fair Labor Accreditation is limited to manufacturing and agricultural companies approved for membership by the FLA Board of Directors.  

Companies that produce university merchandise but do not meet the criteria to become a member are eligible to join FLA’s Collegiate Licensee Program as affiliates.   

All Fair Labor Accredited companies can be found here. 

Concerns may be submitted to FLA through our Contact Us form.