The Potential Role for Certification

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1 Engaging the Seafood Industry in Social Development The Potential Role for Certification Jeff Peterson Training Coordinator Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) Division of the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) Annapolis, Maryland 22 September 2015

2 Vision GAA - Vision & Mission The Global Aquaculture Alliance recognizes that aquaculture is the only sustainable means of increasing the seafood supply to meet the food needs of the world s growing population. Mission GAA advocates, educates and demonstrates responsible aquaculture practices to feed and employ future generations. The Four Pillars of Responsible Aquaculture 2"

3 Four Pillars of Responsible Aquaculture SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 48 audit clauses related to: worker safety health and employee relations wages and other terms of employment the use of child, forced or bonded labor human trafficking 3"

4 What s Driving Certification? Retailers, not consumers, are the principle driving force behind corporate social responsibility and farmed seafood certification Peter Redmond, GAA Vice President for Global Market Development The Cynical Perspective Corporate Risk Management Brand Protection We don t want bad things to hurt our image vs. The Altruistic Perspective Proactive Support of Social Issues Corporate Social Responsibility Officers We want to do the right thing 4"

5 What s Driving Social Responsibility Change in the Field? Aquaculture Certification, including BAP. Same Social Responsibility Audit Clauses in All BAP Standards. Section: 1. Wages & Benefits 2. Working Hours 3. Forced, Bonded, Trafficked and Prison Labor 4. Child Labor and Young Workers 5. Worker Health and Safety, Facilities & Housing 6. Hiring & Terms of Employment 7. Discrimination, Discipline, Abuse and Harassment 8. Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining Total No. Social Responsibility Audit Clauses: 48 No Exclusions: All BAP-certified facilities must be audited for the full scope of the social accountability section of the respective standard. 5"

6 What s Driving Social Responsibility Change in the Field? To effect change we must first engage with the both the retail and the production sector. GAA accomplishes this through strong retail/importer support of the BAP certification program. 6"

7 BAP Certification Program BAP retail & foodservice endorsers 7"

8 BAP Social Responsibility Standards! Audit Clause Examples Audit Clauses Examples: Wages & Benefits: The Applicant shall provide benefits that, at minimum, are required by local or national law. The Applicant shall compensate workers for overtime hours worked beyond the nationally mandated regular work week, at a premium rate, as required by local law. 8"

9 BAP Social Responsibility Standards! Audit Clause Examples Forced, Bonded, Indentured, Trafficked and Prison The Labor facility shall not engage in any form of forced or indentured labor. This includes human trafficking, the holding of original identity papers, or other coercion intended to force anyone to work. Bonded labor is prohibited. The facility shall not require the payment of deposits, bonds or other financial guarantees that may result in debt bondage. 9"

10 BAP Social Responsibility Standards! Audit Clause Examples Child Labor and Young Workers The applicant shall not engage in or support the use of child labor. The applicant shall comply with local child labor laws regarding: - Minimum working age, or - The age of compulsory education, or, - The ILO Minimum Age Convention 138, whichever is higher. The employment of young workers (above the minimum age but under 18 years old) shall be in compliance with local laws, including required access to compulsory education 10"

11 BAP Social Responsibility Standards! Audit Clause Examples Worker Health and Safety, Facilities and Housing If provided, employee housing shall meet local and national standards (e.g., safe, water-tight structures, adequate space, heating/ventilation/cooling, pest control, sink, bathing and toilet facilities). BAP audit includes: Interviewing facility workers Inspection of on-site housing 11"

12 BAP Social Responsibility Standards! Audit Clause Examples Discrimination, Discipline, Abuse and Harassment The Applicant shall not engage in or permit discrimination in all aspects of employment, including but not limited to: Recruitment, hiring, compensation, terms of employment, advancement, discipline, access to training, promotion, termination, or retirement on the basis of: - Race - Color - Gender - National origin - Heritage - Religion - Age - Nationality - Social or ethnic origin - Maternity - Sexual orientation - Political opinion - Disability - or any other status. 12"

13 BAP Social Responsibility Standards! Audit Clause Examples Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining Facilities shall respect the rights of workers to associate, organize, and bargain collectively without prior authorization from management. Facilities shall not interfere with, restrict, or prevent such activities and shall not discriminate against or retaliate against workers exercising their right to representation in accordance with international labor standards. There shall be a written worker grievance process, made available to all workers, that allows for the anonymous reporting of grievances to management without fear of retaliation. 13"

14 BAP Community Relations Standard: Facilities shall strive for good community relations and not block access to public areas, common land, fishing grounds or other traditional natural resources used by local communities. Audit Clauses: The applicant shall accommodate local inhabitants by not blocking traditional access routes to fishing grounds, wetland areas and other public resources. 14"

15 BAP Community Relations Audit Clauses: The applicant shall demonstrate interaction with the local community through meetings, committees, correspondence, service projects or other activities performed annually or more often. Mangrove"EducaDon" 15"

16 The Future? I ve been telling you the industry has been moving in this direction for years and you haven t wanted to listen. Kreeger s is just the latest and most vocal customer asking for this. We ve had several retailers ask us to address social responsibility and you ve managed to put them off. I m going to need your full support on this. This is serious stuff. It s going to mean big changes around here. Dear Supplier, You Must Be Certified; Resistance Is Futile Food Safety Magazine, Sep/Oct-15. In reference to GFSI and certification 16

17 Thank you