GRI Global Action  Network for Transparency in the Supply Chain (GANTSCh) Program. GANTSCh program is to help the SMEs produce their sustainability report. The GANTSCh program was designed to develop capacity building projects that bring transparency and sustainability reporting to organizations. One of the objectives is to focus on Multinational Enterprises (MNE) by collaborating with MNEs that want to embed sustainable practices &  reporting within  their  supply  chains.  GANTSCh  program  allows  SMEs  to  develop  sustainability  management  skills  to  understand  and  take ownership of their sustainability impacts by using the G3, G3.1 sustainability reporting framework. Puma AG has  been partnering with GRI to implement GANTSCh program for its suppliers based in Cambodia, Malaysia, China, Vietnam, and etc.

SRops' senior consultant was hired as Regional Coach and Coordinator in the GRI GANTSCh Program to support those Puma AG's participating suppliers located in Southeast Asia such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia during period of 2010 through 2012. The tasks and responsibilities of the hired Coach and Coordinator included but not limited to the followings: coach and guide the suppliers to develop their Level C, Level B Sustainability Reports using GRI G3, G3.1 Sustainability Reporting Framework, hold and coordinate multiple coaching workshops, coach and guide the participating suppliers through the five phases of the sustainability reporting Level C, Level B cycle, provide in person supports and remote supports during the reporting process, provide insights, provide technical explanations, provide guidelines and index, give instructions on data calculation, provide samples on request, review their draft level C, level B reports in details in person, provide comments, inputs and advice on the draft reports before it was finalized and etc. 

SRops Consulting Co., Ltd. had been selected by The IDH, The Sustainable Trade Initiative to be a Leading Worker Engagement Consultant, Trainer, Coach and Implementer during November 2016 to March 2021 in its Race to the Top Program (RttT). RttT is a collaborative initiative coordinated by The IDH, The Sustainable Trade Initiative in promoting large scale improvements to sustainable manufacturing in the country and it is a unique partnership involving the Vietnamese apparel and footwear industry, global consumer brands, the Vietnamese government and public partners, RttT intends to reshape manufacturing practices starting in Vietnam through a series of activities that are being undertaken including factory assessments, workshops, training and dialogue. 

The analysis of the program reflect a positive increase in critical worker voice and management listening to worker concerns. This is reflected in the themes which included:

• The workers feel more secure in asking for increased benefits. This is seen as a positive, as workers are now speaking out, in comparison prior to the program.

• Improving the overall working environment.

• Health & Safety issues.

• Improved production schedule.

• Food in the canteen.

• Difficulty with new products and a request for more support to learn the product.

• More material to work with.

• Workers being better informed to explain delays or issues with suppliers to their peers

The Worker Engagement training component has been effective as workers have been given the tools for dialogue with management, further supported by Improvement Circles. 85% of the workers knew who their Improvement Circle Leaders were and could describe their role. These figures are very encouraging as it is clear who they should turn to and therefore they are less likely to not speak out. Workers indicated to feel comfortable raising issues and are better able to use the channels available for them to do so constructively. 

The Norwegian Development Agency (Norad) supports this training and capacity building program for factories supplying to Ethical Trading Initiative (IEH) Norway company members in Asian countries. This program has covered around 1800 suppliers in China, India, Bangladesh and Vietnam. Five such training have been conducted in Vietnam. Sustainable Trade is the Dialogue@Work overall project management. Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development is the Dialogue@Work Vietnam Project Management.  

SRops Consulting Co., Ltd. is hired as the key trainer to deliver a series of Capacity Building on Dialogue at Work including training workshops, coaching activities, in-factory and desk supports to management teams, workers representatives and workers from the participating suppliers, who are the suppliers of H&M, Unil As and Bergan, through out the life cycle of the program. The participating suppliers are from diverse industries such as Garment, Ceramics, Quality Outdoor and Tactical Gear, Canned Sea Fish. 

SRops Consulting is proud to be engaged by RBAs/Scanteam AS as country evaluator for Vietnam in the Dutch "Strategic Partnership for Garment Supply Chain Transformation" (SP) in its five year of €32 million partnership between Fair Wear Foundation, major Dutch trade union confederations CNV Internationaal and Mondiaal FNV, and Dutch MFA. The goal of this SP was aiming at "Better for workers while still good for business" which sets out to improve corporate and public policies and practices in 7 garment exporting countries, focusing on #SocialDialogue, #LivingWages and ​#GenderBasedViolence, targeting changes at political, industry and producer levels. 

"Better workers while still good for business". This was the goal of Dutch "Strategic Partnership for Garment Supply Chain Transformation" (SP). In our evaluation, Responsible Business Advisors / Scanteam AS, SRops Consulting and Paradigm Shift Global, found that SP has influenced policies in all targeted production countries. Its support to several key collaborative platforms has been crucial, evidence-based advocacy has proven powerful and the partners' joint convening power is considerable. The bilateral relations between the Dutch unions and their national partners are crucial for trust, while Fair Wear opens the door to brands and producers and adds credibility to the SP towards governments. 

Future efforts should focus on implementation of existing laws and levelling the playing field, i.e. by requiring import companies to integrate minimum wages in their due diligence and decent work. 

Union Aid Abroad APHEDA in partnership with the Trade Union Solidarity Centre of Finland (SASK) implemented a pilot project, “Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI) on Labour Standards and Social Responsibility among Selected Vietnamese Supplier and Sub-Contractor Companies to the Finland Retail Sector” in Vietnam between 2006-2008. The project aimed to improve Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) through improved labor standards and labor relations between employers and employees, leading to compliance with the European standard, BSCI, for selected Vietnamese retail supply companies to Finland. Altogether 13 companies and 18 factories took part in the project.

The project involved an initial audit of each participating company to measure their compliance with BSCI. The selected companies were audited using 3 criteria: (i) environmental, (ii) social conditions (OHS and compliance of Vietnamese Labour law) and (iii) economic parameters. Those companies which did not meet the BSCI requirements at the first audit undertook a Corrective Action Plan to improve the situation. The trade unions in each company were also provided information on labour laws, negotiation/communication skills to improve organizing and CBA.

SASK and APHEDA wishes to assess the long term impact of the 2006-2008 pilot-project on workers’ conditions, industrial relations, trade union capacity and environmental compliance amongst these participating companies in Vietnam.

SRops Consulting is proud to be engaged by Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA (Australian People for Health, Education and Development Abroad) as an independent consultant for the Impact Study of the "Business Social Compliance Initiative" Project.