The Committee on Manufacturer ResponsibilityEarlier this term, the Ad-Hoc Committee on Sweatshop Labor recommended a Code of Workplace Conduct for University of Pennsylvania Apparel Licensees. This Code was documented Of Record in Almanac on March 28 (www.upenn.edu/almanac/v46/n24/030700.html). It is my sincerest hope that the Code will enable us to improve the working conditions for laborers in the garment industry. As outlined in the Code, the Committee on Manufacturer Responsibility will review the Code of Conduct annually; review the effectiveness of monitoring, once we have settled the question of a monitoring organization or organizations; review the state of compliance of our apparel licensees; and review any alleged violations of the University's Code of Conduct. I would also call on the Committee to consider related issues as appropriate. I expect that this new Committee will take the summer to get up to speed and monitor the progress of the Fair Labor Association and the Worker Rights Consortium. I have also asked the Committee to meet during the first week of the fall semester to consider that progress and whether it meets our concerns sufficiently for Penn to change its position and join either or both of these organizations. I thank the members of the Committee in advance for their consideration and efforts. --Judith Rodin, President
Almanac, Vol. 46, No. 32, May 9, 2000 |