Resolution Adopting Policy Regarding the Purchase, Lease, Consignment
or Rental of Goods or Services Produced Under Sweatshop Conditions
by
The County of Gloucester
Woodbury, New Jersey
Whereas, it is in the interest of the County of Gloucester to purchase goods and services from responsible contractors that provide quality goods and services at a competitive price; and
Whereas,the County of Gloucester does not want to do business with companies that compete by exploiting their workforce rather than by running efficient operations to be reliable and responsible contractors; and
Whereas, the county of Gloucester purchases items of apparel and textiles, which is an industry in which many scandals have been uncovered in which producers maintain sweatshop conditions such as paying poverty wages, violating workplace regulations and suppressing worker rights; and
Whereas, such conditions in apparel and other industries threaten the jobs and working conditions of all workers; and
Whereas, it is the policy of the County of Gloucester that it should not purchase, lease, rent or take consignment goods or services produced under sweatshop conditions, and that the following guidelines, criteria and procedures are adopted:
Section 1: The procedures and guidelines set forth herein shall apply to items of apparel and textiles, such as clothing, headwear, footwear, lines and fabric, as well as to any other industry designated by the Freeholders as vulnerable to sweatshop competition.
Section 2: In order to ensure that Gloucester County contracts with vendors that have responsible employment practices, the following criteria will be used in contracting for goods and services:
- Preference will be given to goods or services produced in the U.S.A.
- The County of Gloucester will, whenever possible, only contract with vendors with responsible employment practices, as defined in Section 3.B below.
Section 3: The county of Gloucester shall require of every bidder for city contracts covered under Section 1, and annually from every provider of goods covered under Section 1.
- Disclosure of all subcontractors and sites. The bidder or vendor shall identify the name and address of each subcontractor to be used, as well as the address of all locations, including subcontractor locations, substantially involved in providing goods or services covered by this Act. Such information will be considered public information.
- Certificate of Compliance. The bidder or vendor shall certify that each location including subcontractor locations, substantially involved in producing or distributing goods or services covered by this Act meet the following standards:
- Compensation. Wage and benefit levels must be sufficient to meet basic needs and provide some discretionary income for a family of 4 (a "living wage"). For employment within the U.S.A., this shall mean wages of at least $7.00 per hour in 1997 dollars, along with affordable family health benefits and company-paid pension benefits typical of responsible employers.
- Rights. The company respects workers' right to speak up about working conditions without fear of retaliation, and to form unions of their own choosing without employer resistance. Due process and just cause procedures are used for discipline or discharge, with recourse to arbitration. The company complies with all laws, regulations and ILO standards governing the workplace. The company does not use child labor, forced labor, corporal punishment. The company does not discriminate in hiring, promotion, or compensation on the basis of race, national origin, religion, gender, sexual preference, union affiliation, or political affiliation.
- Safety and Health. The factory provides a safe and healthy work environment.
Section 4: Filing of false information under this Act shall be a criminal violation. The County of Gloucester, at its discretion, may terminate a contract or ban a vendor from holding contracts with the County of Gloucester for a period of 5 years for filing false information or for failing to file information required under this Act. The County of Gloucester may, at its discretion, require correction and remediation of violations of the standards listed in Section 3.B prior to renewing commerce with the contractor. The County of Gloucester may require further proof of compliance with the standards listed in Section 3.B. Upon request, the contractor or subcontractor will make all relevant records available to the County of Gloucester or its designee.
Adopted by the Board of Chosen Freeholders of the County of Gloucester at a meeting held on Wednesday, April 1, 1998 at Woodbury, New Jersey.
Board of Chosen Freeholders of the County of Gloucester
By: Stephen M. Sweeney, Director
Attest: Robert N. Dilella, Clerk
Reprinted by OSHA DATA (tm), Maplewood, NJ.