Chapter 4: Social
Introduction to Social
The Social chapter seeks to empower workers to achieve better working and living conditions for themselves and their families, to promote equality and respect for all, with special attention to vulnerable groups such as migrants, children, youth, and women, and to strengthen human and labor rights protections in certified organizations.
Why the Change?
The changes in the Social Requirements from version 1.3 to version 1.4 were made to simplify the management of social risks, especially for supply chain actors, by removing farm-specific language, reducing the complexity of risk assessments, and eliminating the need for data collection on indicators. These changes maintain the focus on addressing crucial social issues such as child labor, forced labor, discrimination, and workplace harassment, while making the requirements more flexible and manageable for the supply chain.
Key Changes:
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Removal of Gender Equality and Committee References:4.1.1(previously 5.1.1) no longer references gender equality or the need for specific committees. This change simplifies the requirement for supply chain actors, allowing them to focus on addressing the key social risks without being burdened by gender-related and farm-specific compliance.
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Optional Use of Risk Assessment Tools:4.1.2 (previously 5.1.2) clarifies that the risk assessment is a tool rather than a mandatory requirement. This gives supply chain actors more flexibility to use risk assessment tools of their choice based on the level of risk, making compliance easier.
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Streamlined Monitoring and Remediation:4.1.3 and 4.1.4 (previously 5.1.3 and 5.1.4) remove the requirement to collect and report indicators at the supply chain level. These changes allow supply chain actors to focus on practical risk monitoring and remediation without the added burden of extensive data collection.
Chapter 4: Social Requirements Change Overview
|
Requirement Number |
Subject |
Changes from V1.3 |
Implication |
Explanation |
|
4.1.1 |
Assess and Address |
This was previously requirement 5.1.1 in version 1.3. Removed reference to gender equality and committees for simplification, as it is covered in 1.1.3. |
Simplifies the management of social risks by removing unnecessary references to gender equality and committees. |
The removal of gender equality and committee references focuses the requirement on managing key social risks (child labor, forced labor, discrimination, and workplace harassment) for supply chain actors. |
|
4.1.2 |
Assess and Address |
This was previously requirement 5.1.2 in version 1.3. Removed farm-specific language and clarified the risk assessment as a tool rather than a mandatory requirement. |
Reduces the burden on supply chain actors by removing farm-specific elements and providing more flexibility for using risk assessments as tools. |
By making the risk assessment an optional tool rather than mandatory, this requirement allows supply chain actors to tailor their approach based on risk, reducing unnecessary complexity. |
|
4.1.3 |
Assess and Address |
This was previously requirement 5.1.3 in version 1.3. Removed reference to indicators as they are not collected at the supply chain level. |
Streamlines the requirement, ensuring it is focused on the practical application of monitoring risks and remediating cases. |
The removal of indicators makes this requirement more practical for supply chain actors, ensuring they can focus on monitoring and addressing risks without the need for extensive data collection. |
|
4.1.4 |
Assess and Address |
This was previously requirement 5.1.4 in version 1.3. Removed reference to indicators, as they are not collected at the supply chain level. |
Simplifies the remediation process by focusing on remediating confirmed cases without requiring farm-specific data collection. |
The removal of the indicator requirement ensures that supply chain actors focus on remediating cases of child labor, forced labor, and discrimination in a timely manner without being bogged down by data collection. |