September 27, 2010

The right of workers to freely associate and to bargain collectively concerning the terms and conditions of their employment are key pillars of freedom of association enshrined in and protected by international human rights conventions. Of the two main ILO conventions which pertain to Freedom of Association, ILO Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize and ILO Convention No. 98 on the Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining, Mexico has ratified the former but not the latter. These principles are reflected in the codes of conduct of most leading brands.

What Should Brands Do?

While brands can not be expected to replace the role of governments or to interfere in the internal affairs of unions or in the collective bargaining process, they can and should take concrete steps to ensure that workers in their Mexican supplier factories can exercise their freedom of association and collective bargaining rights.

MSN's Freedom of Association in Mexico Tool Kit is designed to prod and assist brands in taking a more systematic and proactive approach to ensuring FOA is respected in their Mexico supply chains through strengthening brand policies, auditing procedures and corrective action planning as well as communication with vendors, suppliers and licensees.

The Freedom of Association in Mexico Tool Kit currently includes:

1. Freedom of Association in Mexico: the context – which describes the particular barriers to freedom of association in Mexico that inhibit workers’ ability to exercise their associational rights.
2. What brands can do to ensure respect for freedom of association in Mexico – which sets out the specific steps brands can take to help overcome these barriers and create a positive climate for freedom of association in their Mexican supply chain.
3. FOA in Mexico: Audit checklist – which outlines the specific issues and practices auditors need to be attentive to in order to better identify protection contracts and other barriers to freedom of association, as well as specific FOA violations.
4. Progress chart on FOA in Mexico – which allows brands identify and track the steps they are taking, or are prepared to take, to in order to overcome the barriers to freedom of association in their Mexican supply chain.