Workers Far Away
They count on us, and we count on them.
As a values-driven family business, respect and care for people are at the top of our list of priorities. These are not just words; they form the core of our daily practices and policies. Good working conditions for the workers in our supply chain are therefore an essential pillar of our sustainability policy. Through our participation in the Fair Wear Foundation and the Transparency Pledge, we are working alongside other retailers to drive change within the apparel industry.
Code of Conduct
The standards we set regarding human rights are laid out in our Code of Conduct. This code, which we present to and have all our Tier 1 suppliers sign, is drafted in accordance with the principles of the International Labour Organization (ILO) of the United Nations. The ILO has designated eleven of its conventions as “fundamental.” These eleven conventions cover five topics considered to be the fundamental principles and rights at work:
- Freedom of association and recognition of the right to collective bargaining
- Prohibition of all forms of forced labor
- Prohibition of child labor
- Prohibition of discrimination
- Working in safe and healthy conditions
The first version of our Code of Conduct was established in 2014, and our most recent code dates from 2023. Through extensive collaboration between colleagues from the Buying team, our country experts, and a supplier, we ensured that all relevant perspectives and insights were incorporated. This resulted in a practical and workable policy document. At the end of 2023, this document was approved by management and the board of directors, and subsequently rolled out to all our textile suppliers.
Fair Wear Foundation
The Fair Wear Foundation is an NGO dedicated to improving working conditions in the apparel industry. JBC, along with four other Belgian fashion brands, is one of the 107 members of the Fair Wear Foundation. We strive not only to maintain our current category within Fair Wear but also to improve our score every year. This means we are making even greater efforts to implement and actively comply with our Code of Conduct. In doing so, we go beyond what retailers in the fashion sector do on average. Our efforts over the past few years were thoroughly reviewed, and JBC once again received a GOOD rating. This places us among the “best in class” among apparel retailers.
Bangladesh Safety Accord
After JBC became the first Belgian retailer to sign the initial version, JBC re-signed the new International Accord for Health & Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry in November 2023. We did this alongside the Bangladesh Safety Program addendum. Together with our Bangladeshi suppliers, we aim to continue working toward safe and healthy working conditions in the factories.
Also in Bangladesh, JBC is participating in a pilot project of the International Accord for Health & Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry. This allows workers to report complaints not only about safe and healthy working conditions but also about a wide range of issues such as wages, training, working hours, vacation, payment, and maternity leave. Two of our suppliers have been selected to participate in this project.
Want to learn more?
Would you like to learn more about our sustainability strategy? Read all about it in our 2025 Sustainability Report, or visit the websites of our brands CKS, JBC, and Mayerline.