1. What is the SLCP Social Labor Integration Project?
The goal of the SLCP project is to create an integrated evaluation framework for social labor data collection and eliminate audit fatigue. By replacing existing proprietary evaluation tools, avoid duplication and reduce the number of social labor audits. Reuse resources previously used for compliance audits to improve working conditions for social workers, while increasing the comparability of social labor data.
2. What is the Integrated Assessment Framework (CAF)?
The SLCP integrated evaluation framework consists of three elements:
Data collection and validation tools - collect and validate data on the social and labor conditions of factories.
Verify Protocol - Explain how to understand and answer questions in the tool.
Verifier Guide - Provide support to validators during the validation process.
3. What is the SLCP factory inspection and evaluation process?
The factory conducts self-assessment or joint evaluation. During the self-assessment period, factory managers are required to fill out data through Excel or any recognized hosting platform's online system. In the case of joint evaluation, the factory will receive support from external consultants, such as its own brand. The consultant participating in the joint evaluation can be a validator, but cannot be a validator who will verify the evaluation data in the future.
The data is validated by a validator approved by SLCP. It can be an independent second party (such as the buyer) or a third party (such as a service provider or non-governmental organization). Verification must be completed through an SLCP approved hosting platform that integrates SLCP data collection and verification tools into an online format.
The validated evaluation data will be sent to the Distribution Gateway and shared with the approved hosting platform (AcceptedHost) selected by the factory.
4. What is an SLCP system for data hosting and sharing?
Gateways (IT platforms and systems) allow different participants (such as factories, brands, validators) to share while ensuring data integrity and security. In this system, each participant has their own roles and responsibilities. The main participants are accredited hosting platforms (AccreditedHost) and distribution gateways.
5. What is an AccreditedHost recognized by SLCP?
The accredited hosting platform (AccreditedHost) is a key role in data hosting and sharing in the SLCP system. It is an existing platform that can perform offline/online free/joint evaluations and online validation, and is the key to sharing validated evaluation data with end users. The hosting platforms recognized by SLCP include Assent, FFC, Sedex, and SustainableApparelCoalition
6. What is the SLCP Distribution Gateway?
The publishing gateway is a key role in the SLCP system for data hosting and sharing. By publishing the gateway, accounts can be created for factories, validated assessors, and validators. The publishing gateway serves as a repository for all SLCP validated evaluation data, promoting data sharing between different hosting platforms.
7. What do the participating factories need to do?
1) Create accounts on the Distribution Gateway and related accredited hosting platforms (AccreditedHost); As part of the hosting platform account setup, the factory needs to input its ID from the gateway of the hosting platform
2) Conduct self/joint assessment through Excel file online through hosting platform (assessment requires>95% completion)
3) Upload or complete evaluations on the hosting platform
4) Pay the verification fee (approximately $300, as defined by the verification agency) to the verification agency, as well as the SLCP fee ($200)
5) Log in to the hosting platform account and click 'OK' to send the verified assessment to the gateway
6) Log in to the gateway and select another hosting platform with which you want to share verified evaluation data
8. What tools can be used to complete self/joint assessments?
There are two methods:
a) Fill in the Excel file downloaded through the gateway;
b) Fill out online through one of the recognized hosting platforms (AH).
9. What should I do after completing the SLCP self-assessment or joint assessment?
After completing the evaluation through these two methods (Excel and online), you need to upload/submit the evaluation data to a recognized hosting platform to initiate the validation process. You can ask the selected hosting platform for detailed information on performing this operation.
10. How to arrange SLCP verification?
The factory can view the detailed information of SLCP approved verification agencies from the SLCP gateway. The factory selects one or more validation agencies to collect quotes and confirm whether the services are available. The validation agency will designate an approved validator. The designated validator will arrange to visit the factory and complete the validation of factory data through one of the recognized hosting platforms. After the validation is completed, the validator will notify the factory that the validation data has been successfully submitted through the hosting platform.
11. How to share validated SLCP evaluation data?
Once the factory receives the notification of completion of verification, it can share the verified evaluation data with the selected approved hosting platform through the SLCP gateway, or temporarily share it with unauthorized users outside the SLCP system.
12. How can I find a validator approved by SLCP? How to choose?
On the SLCP publishing gateway, you can find a list of SLCP approved verification authorities (VB). You can choose the verification agency you want to collaborate with, but you cannot choose a specific verifier. The verification agency will designate an approved verifier for verification. This is to prevent bias and ensure the integrity of the data.
13. Which institutions can be entrusted to verify SLCP factory inspection?
Representative third-party institutions approved by SLCP include BV; BSI; QIMA; SGS; T ü VRheinland; T ü VS ü D; UL, etc. Please refer to the link for a complete list of verification institutions https://slconvergence.org/signatories/
14. What is the cost of conducting SLCP validation?
The verification cost is determined by the verification agency that hires the verifier. SLCP charges a fee of $200 to the verification agency for each validation. By default, the factory pays the verification fee based on the ownership of the factory.
15. How do brands/retailers participate in SLCP factory inspections?
Select the approved hosting platform (AH) they want to use to download their supplier evaluation data
If relevant: Recommend validation agency (VB) to the supply factory
If relevant: suggest an approved hosting platform (AH) to the supply factory
Collaborate with the factory to check the verification status and provide support
After verification is completed: Obtain verified evaluation data through an approved hosting platform (with factory permission)