Assessing the social impact of codes of practice 3 year DFID funded project Kenya cut flowers, S.A. wine

Need for impact Assessment Rhetoric of CSR – no evidence. Focus on business case, little on development case Rhetoric of CSR – no evidence. Focus on business case, little on development case Increased questioning of effectiveness of voluntary codes of practice Increased questioning of effectiveness of voluntary codes of practice No systematic, rigorous assessments of code impact, particularly from worker perspectives No systematic, rigorous assessments of code impact, particularly from worker perspectives

Objectives To carry out a systematic assessment of the social impact of the adoption of corporate codes of practice on different groups of workers, worker households and local communities To carry out a systematic assessment of the social impact of the adoption of corporate codes of practice on different groups of workers, worker households and local communities To inform policy-makers, donors, code bodies, NGOs, trade unions, and worker organisations of impact of codes To inform policy-makers, donors, code bodies, NGOs, trade unions, and worker organisations of impact of codes Challenge assumptions about relationship between compliance and impacts Challenge assumptions about relationship between compliance and impacts

Varying objectives Code bodies – proving credibility? To improve impact, operational learning approach? Code bodies – proving credibility? To improve impact, operational learning approach? Donor funded – effectiveness of codes as development tool Donor funded – effectiveness of codes as development tool Both tend to focus on upward accountability. Lack of downward accountability to workers Both tend to focus on upward accountability. Lack of downward accountability to workers Real participatory, empowering approach to impact assessment constrained by inherent limitations of power inequalities in global supply chains Real participatory, empowering approach to impact assessment constrained by inherent limitations of power inequalities in global supply chains

Definition I.A. is the systematic analysis of the lasting or significant changes – positive or negative, intended or not – in peoples lives brought about by a given action or series of actions. (Roche, 1999, p21) I.A. is the systematic analysis of the lasting or significant changes – positive or negative, intended or not – in peoples lives brought about by a given action or series of actions. (Roche, 1999, p21) Different kinds of impact considered Different kinds of impact considered Worker material wealth (assets: e.g. wages, working hours etc) Worker material wealth (assets: e.g. wages, working hours etc) Worker social wellbeing or human capital (no child labour, safe working conditions, no harsh treatment) Worker social wellbeing or human capital (no child labour, safe working conditions, no harsh treatment) Worker empowerment or political capital (e.g. freedom to associate, no discrimination, worker-management relations etc) Worker empowerment or political capital (e.g. freedom to associate, no discrimination, worker-management relations etc) Livelihood impacts on worker households and neighbouring groups Livelihood impacts on worker households and neighbouring groups Impacts on secondary stakeholders (e.g. trade unions, buyers, NGOs, code bodies, government..) and governance of supply chain Impacts on secondary stakeholders (e.g. trade unions, buyers, NGOs, code bodies, government..) and governance of supply chain

Impact Chain Inputs – Code adoption Inputs – Code adoption Outputs/Activities – Changes in company policies and practices to comply (e.g. introduction of health and safety policy, observing the living wage, written contracts) Outputs/Activities – Changes in company policies and practices to comply (e.g. introduction of health and safety policy, observing the living wage, written contracts) Outcomes – Safer working conditions? Higher wages? Able to join union or form worker committees? Upgraded housing? Improved worker treatment by managers? Outcomes – Safer working conditions? Higher wages? Able to join union or form worker committees? Upgraded housing? Improved worker treatment by managers? Impacts – E.g. Improved worker health, education? Greater ownership of assets? Diversifying livelihood activities of household members? Impacts – E.g. Improved worker health, education? Greater ownership of assets? Diversifying livelihood activities of household members?

Codes KENYA: Kenya Flower Council, FPEAK, MPS, Max Havelaar, ETI Base Code KENYA: Kenya Flower Council, FPEAK, MPS, Max Havelaar, ETI Base Code SOUTH AFRICA: ETI base code (wine pilot) and SA8000. SOUTH AFRICA: ETI base code (wine pilot) and SA8000.

Methodology Key comparison between rights and conditions for workers on code adopting companies and non-code adopting companies Key comparison between rights and conditions for workers on code adopting companies and non-code adopting companies Representative samples taken of each group and change monitored over time Representative samples taken of each group and change monitored over time

Key steps (1) Analysing stakeholders in the supply chain Analysing stakeholders in the supply chain Consultations re expected areas of impact Consultations re expected areas of impact Contextual analyses – legislation, socio- economic background, code provisions etc Contextual analyses – legislation, socio- economic background, code provisions etc Obtaining industry data (postal survey?) and developing a typology (criteria for sampling) Obtaining industry data (postal survey?) and developing a typology (criteria for sampling) Mapping distribution of code adoption Mapping distribution of code adoption

Key Steps (2) Representative sampling of companies Representative sampling of companies Seeking access to C.A. and non C.A. companies – confidentiality, potential benefits (?) Seeking access to C.A. and non C.A. companies – confidentiality, potential benefits (?) Identifying worker priorities. Developing impact indicators through participatory research Identifying worker priorities. Developing impact indicators through participatory research Analysis of convergence-divergence of worker priorities/code provisions Analysis of convergence-divergence of worker priorities/code provisions

Key steps (3) Questionnaire survey – random samples of workers to create baseline and then annual monitoring rounds. Questionnaire survey – random samples of workers to create baseline and then annual monitoring rounds. To obtain information on areas of impact/ magnitude of changes. Questionnaire developed based on worker priorities. To obtain information on areas of impact/ magnitude of changes. Questionnaire developed based on worker priorities. Different groups of workers interviewed (male/female, permanent/seasonal) Different groups of workers interviewed (male/female, permanent/seasonal)

Key Steps (4) Supplier company manager interviews Supplier company manager interviews Qualitative inquiry – household case studies, key informant interviews on causes of changes affecting workers and others (e.g. smallholders) Qualitative inquiry – household case studies, key informant interviews on causes of changes affecting workers and others (e.g. smallholders) Analysis and dissemination of results Analysis and dissemination of results

Issues Access to companies difficult. Often dynamic, politicized environment (esp. Kenya) & research fatigue. Access to companies difficult. Often dynamic, politicized environment (esp. Kenya) & research fatigue. Workers may fear recriminations - Ethics of research? Trustworthiness of information? Workers may fear recriminations - Ethics of research? Trustworthiness of information? Role of researchers – impact often unrecognised Role of researchers – impact often unrecognised

Issues (2) Attribution - complex. Context & industry trends v. important Attribution - complex. Context & industry trends v. important S.A. - post-apartheid era, industry deregulation, opening up of international markets, extension of legislation to agriculture. Recent intro. Of minimum wage. S.A. - post-apartheid era, industry deregulation, opening up of international markets, extension of legislation to agriculture. Recent intro. Of minimum wage. Changes in labour strategy often precede code. Changes in labour strategy often precede code. Triangulation Triangulation

Participatory dev. Of indicators (3) Participatory research methods – S.A. indiv. Vs group interviews. Participatory research methods – S.A. indiv. Vs group interviews. Kenya – focus groups, 5 farms. Workers prioritised ability to make savings & investments (e.g. land, housing, childrens education) and immediate conditions (e.g. medical care, secure wages, equal employment opportunities etc). Access to non-code adopters suddenly difficult – 1 farm only. Kenya – focus groups, 5 farms. Workers prioritised ability to make savings & investments (e.g. land, housing, childrens education) and immediate conditions (e.g. medical care, secure wages, equal employment opportunities etc). Access to non-code adopters suddenly difficult – 1 farm only. S.A. Worker priorities in SA diverged from provisions. S.A. Worker priorities in SA diverged from provisions.

Baseline findings Kenya: delays, but survey data obtained, extending sample. Code-adopting co. workers better-off re wages, allowances, job security, H&S, HIV/Aids awareness, union membership) but need to extend sample. Kenya: delays, but survey data obtained, extending sample. Code-adopting co. workers better-off re wages, allowances, job security, H&S, HIV/Aids awareness, union membership) but need to extend sample. S.Africa - permanent workers on CA farms better skills/education profile than counterparts and better employment conditions. Women experience less verbal abuse on CA farms, and fear less losing their job if their spouse loses his job. More workers represented on CA farms by worker committees.. Membership of trade unions low. CA farm seasonal workers not significantly better off. Widening gap between permanent and seasonal workforce at code adopting companies? S.Africa - permanent workers on CA farms better skills/education profile than counterparts and better employment conditions. Women experience less verbal abuse on CA farms, and fear less losing their job if their spouse loses his job. More workers represented on CA farms by worker committees.. Membership of trade unions low. CA farm seasonal workers not significantly better off. Widening gap between permanent and seasonal workforce at code adopting companies?

Monitoring cycle 1 – S.A. Cash income increased at both (new legislation), more written contracts on both types of farms and more HIV/Aids education. Wages higher for seasonals (mainly women), more written contracts and better treatment on C.A., but still mainly treated as peripheral labour force. Little knowledge of codes. Cash income increased at both (new legislation), more written contracts on both types of farms and more HIV/Aids education. Wages higher for seasonals (mainly women), more written contracts and better treatment on C.A., but still mainly treated as peripheral labour force. Little knowledge of codes.

Final thoughts Multi-stakeholder initiatives (e.g. WIETA) hailed as creating greater Southern ownership, but still early days. Unpack ownership, co-optation? Multi-stakeholder initiatives (e.g. WIETA) hailed as creating greater Southern ownership, but still early days. Unpack ownership, co-optation? Managers – external trading environment is key and buyer practice is undermining efforts. Managers – external trading environment is key and buyer practice is undermining efforts. Worker knowledge of codes negligible – further unpack (whether codes presented, explained, means of redress etc) Worker knowledge of codes negligible – further unpack (whether codes presented, explained, means of redress etc) Some worker priorities not addressed by codes Some worker priorities not addressed by codes SA – widening gap between permanent and seasonal workforce. Many of changes precede code introduction, and some also relate to new legislation (e.g intro. of minimum wage). SA – widening gap between permanent and seasonal workforce. Many of changes precede code introduction, and some also relate to new legislation (e.g intro. of minimum wage).

More info Methodology Report (2001), Baseline Report, (2002). Methodology Report (2001), Baseline Report, (2002). DFID presentation, (2002), Oxfam DIP article (forthcoming), Review of experience to date in impact assessment and ethical trade. (forthcoming). DFID presentation, (2002), Oxfam DIP article (forthcoming), Review of experience to date in impact assessment and ethical trade. (forthcoming). Concepts and methodology paper (forthcoming). Concepts and methodology paper (forthcoming). Final reporting March Final reporting March 2005.