SLCP, the Social and Labor Convergence Program, is an industry initiative to harmonize the collection of data on working conditions and reduce the social audit burden. Leading global brands and factories use SLCP as a credible social audit that helps to alleviate the workload on suppliers through an effective, unified standard and verification process. SLCP’s unique data sharing system also allows facilities to share their data with a number of stakeholders at once.
This year, SLCP is adding the capability for worker surveys called WE-Tech, or worker-engagement technology and strongly encourages it to be included in their supplier assessment. Labor Solutions, who successfully participated in the trial of the WE-Tech worker survey in 2022, is now an approved service provider for SLCP WE-Tech.
Why has SLCP added a Worker Survey?
A worker survey is more inclusive than a traditional worker interview. More workers are able to participate, providing facilities the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of working conditions in the facility.
SLCP Worker Engagement Technology (WE Tech) provides a digital platform for workers to directly and anonymously report information. SLCP has adopted this technology as a method for complimenting all three (3) SLCP Validation Methods: Onsite Verification, Virtual + Onsite Verification and Full Virtual Verification.
WE-Tech allows a quick, scalable way to discover high-level issues in the workplace. The yes / no answer options allow clear distinctions between adequate and inadequate conditions that verifiers can investigate and that facility management can use to direct action plans and improvements.
What does the survey ask?
The survey consists of 20 questions related to facility working conditions and the WE Question Set is intended to complement, not duplicate, the CAF Tool questions. This makes the WE Question Set an effective tool for cross referencing with other documentation to ensure an even more accurate interpretation of facility working conditions.
The survey covers seven categories of workplace issues: promotion/advancement, discrimination, harassment/abuse, health and safety, grievance, working conditions, and wages and benefits. For example, questions include: "In the past twelve months, have you learned new skills at this facility, that will help you to get a better job in the future? "
Factories who participate in the WE-Tech survey will receive a copy of the results and can add their own questions to be deployed at the same time as the WE-Tech survey if they wish.
The questionnaires are available in multiple languages and can be augmented with visual or audio to aid workers with literacy issues.
Survey data is anonymous, aggregated and compiled into an easily understood and user-friendly summary report.
How to Deploy SLCP with Labor Solutions?
Labor Solutions’ WOVO Engage is a worker survey tool that enables local facilities and global companies to gather transparent + accurate data directly from the workers throughout the complex supply chains.
Worker surveys can be deployed easily and rapidly through multiple channels to reach the maximum number of workers through WeChat, QR code, WhatsApp or even onsite. Labor Solutions can help you deploy using whatever method is best for your facility and workers.
WOVO reporting dashboard provides global + local trends to understand the issues within the supply chain. The data throughout the supply chain can be tracked and compared throughout time. The scoring system help brands and facilities to better understand specific issues that need either remediation or improvement plans. The automated plan suggests and provides support to facilities with tools, resources, and development plans.
If you are a factory or facility that already uses WOVO you can deploy SLCP ‘s WE-Tech as simply as deploying a survey-- contact your Client Advisor for more information.
The tools are designed to be accessible to workers and make collecting worker data simple. Reach out to us to get more information and get started today.
What Happens to the Data?
The facility owns the survey data and decides with whom they would like to share the survey data but note that the Summary Report of the survey results will be part of the verified assessment data. If you share the FVV verified assessment data, you will share the survey results as well. The Verifier must attach the Summary Report to the final verified assessment with no exceptions.
How to use the results? Labor Solutions' Advisory Team is Here to Provide Support Every Step of the Process.
The SLCP requires factories to follow up on results and provides a protocol for next steps. But we know doing it alone is hard, especially for the first time.
That's why Labor Solutions provides support beyond the tool itself. Our experienced advisory team provides support for both global brands and facilities at every step of the survey process to ensure success. We work directly with facilities to help them understand the opportunities of the survey and support promoting the survey to workers in their language.
Is We-Tech Required?
Currently WE Tech is only mandatory for Full Virtual Verification as Full Virtual Verification does not permit worker interviews; however, WE Tech benefits all three (3) SLCP Validation Methods, including Onsite Verification, by providing facilities the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of working conditions in the facility.
Why Labor Solutions?
Labor Solutions is a women-owned, Asia-based tech solutions provider that specializes in engaging with workers to collect reliable data at scale and report it in a way that proves actionable insights.
Labor Solutions has over a decade of experience in worker surveys and worker engagement in footwear and apparel manufacturing. WOVO actively engages over 1.8 million workers worldwide in their local language. It has the gold standard for worker surveys and deployments which provide statistically significant results and provide the basis for informed improvements.
We are focused on improving outcomes for workers and factory management by leveraging technology and data to inform and improve, not catch and penalize.
Contact us at info@laborsolutions.tech for more information and pricing.