Fair Workplace Council Sweatshop Free Electronics

There are eight key principles behind our anti-sweatshop initative. These are:

Each principle is briefly explained in this section.

Consumer Driven Sweatshop Free Electronics

Our initiative is focused on empowering consumers. For the first time, consumers will have a credible way of choosing products that are certified as being made under safe and sweatshop free conditions.

Incentive for Both Consumer and Brand

Our social mission will be accomplished through creation of mechanisms for both brand name manufacturers and consumers to choose sweatshop shop free and safe workplace practices.

Emphasis on Worker Participation

We believe that the most successful programs are ones where workers participate. The model is similar to successful worker participation programs used to improve manufacturing quality.

Strong Collaboration with Allied Organizations

Our revenue model encourages socially responsible investment funds, consumer groups, and other allied organizations to use Fair Workplace Council Certified products in their own certification programs without charge.

Independence and Transparency

We will strongly maintain our independence from the industry we certify and we have a strong conflict of interest policy to ensure this. Our board members and advisors will have no direct involvement in companies that we inspect or certify. We will not accept gifts, donations, or memberships from the electronics industry.

Our fee structure is designed to avoid conflict of interest. Companies pay certification fees regardless of whether the product or factory passes or fails certification. This is a proven model that has worked in product safety inspection for over 100 years. Complete detailed certification reports for products and factories that pass certification will be posted on our website.

Aggressive Marketing and Public Education

The Fair Workplace Council has created an extensive and aggressive marketing campaign designed to rapidly build public awareness and create demand for Fair Workplace consumer electronics.

Strong Leadership

Our board of directors will consist of people with expertise and leadership in occupational health and safety, labor rights and public policy, sweatshop free community campaigns, marketing, finance, and electronics manufacturing. Our board of advisors will consist of high profile public figures with expertise in labor rights, public policy, and social entrepreneurship.

Designed for Maximum Social Impact

Our business model will be a social entrepreneurial non-profit model designed for rapid growth, expansion and self-sustainability. Our goal is to be self-sustaining in five years and have significant impact toward creating safe and fair workplaces with the major consumer electronics brands.