The Fair Labor Association (FLA) and the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) are leading a coalition of global apparel companies to promote responsible recruitment and employment in Taiwan’s textile sector. This initiative is part of the Commitment to Responsible Recruitment, and is focused on increasing ethical sourcing in global apparel, footwear, and travel goods supply chains.
Objectives of the initiative
The objective is to improve conditions for migrant workers in Taiwan’s textile sector by eliminating fees for recruitment and addressing other workplace issues. One important part of this ongoing effort is working together to eliminate conditions that can lead to forced labor in the countries from which we source products. We commit to work with our global supply chain partners to create conditions so that:
- No worker pays for their job;
- All workers receive a timely refund of fees and costs paid to obtain or maintain their job;
- All workers retain control of their travel documents and have full freedom of movement; and
- All workers are informed, in a language they understand, of the basic terms of their employment before leaving their country of origin.
Who is involved in the initiative
The initiative brings together more than 50 companies sourcing from Taiwan and their Taiwan-based suppliers, with the support of AAFA, FLA, and the Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF).
Expected outcomes
- Improved working conditions for migrant workers in Taiwan’s textile sector through immediate remediation of issues found in audits; adoption of the employer pays principle by employers; repayment of recruitment fees to workers; and adoption of other workplace policy changes.
- Strengthened human rights due diligence (HRDD) of brands and suppliers through improved supply chain tracing and transparency to textile mills (generally Tier 2); improved brand and supplier policies and practices related to responsible recruitment of migrant workers; and robust stakeholder engagement.
- Government advocacy that will lead to systemic changes in Taiwan as well as in those countries that provide migrant labor so that the improvements are scaled and sustained across the sector rather than in a few factories.
Project activities
- Joint letters in September 2024 to the Minister of Economic Affairs and the Minister of Labor urging Taiwan to ensure that responsible business practices are consistently and sustainably applied in the recruitment of migrant workers to Taiwan.
- December 2024 seminar with Taiwan textile mill representatives and global apparel brand representatives to discuss how to provide more protections for foreign migrant workers in Taiwan’s textile mills and the need for adoption of the “employer pays principle.”