Social & Labor Convergence Program (SLCP)

What is the Social & Labor Convergence Program (SLCP)?

The Social & Labor Convergence Program is a new initiative designed to simplify the auditing of labour standards in apparel and footwear facilities by using a Converged Assessment Framework (CAF). Before the SLCP was introduced, facilities in the industry had to submit themselves to a wide range of audits by different organisations and standards. The SLCP aims to simplify and streamline this process. The major benefit of the SLCP is that companies who have been verified do not need to be assessed multiple times by different bodies. Instead, they can spend their time and resources on improving labour conditions. At the same time, social and labour data becomes more comparable, making it easier to formulate and execute improvement programs.

The social and labour convergence program is a multi-stakeholder program. Conforming to the Social and Labour Convergence Program involves a three-stage process:

1. A self-assessment conducted either by the facility itself or a joint assessment in conjunction with external assistance.
2. Your data is then independently verified by SLCP-approved verifiers (which includes an on-site visit).
3. This verified data is uploaded to a secure gateway and accredited host where authorised SLCP users can further review the data with the facility’s permission.

Why is the Social & Labor Convergence Program important?

At present, apparel and footwear companies are required to submit to numerous, frequent audits of their facilities as requested by their clients and supply chain. This process is time-consuming, resource-intensive and often results in duplication of information.

The SLCP offers multiple benefits:

• Ends audit fatigue – no more endless audits by different bodies
• Gives you more time and resources to invest in improving working conditions
• Avoids duplication and improves transparency
• Enables data comparison
• Aims to replace ‘tick box’ culture with real change

The Converged Assessment Framework is a descriptive tool and verification methodology that collects relevant and essential data with the intent to objectively assess industry labour conditions.

TÜV SÜD is an approved SLCP Verifier Body (VB)

TÜV SÜD is one of the nine founding members of the APSCA (Association of Professional Social Compliance Auditors), which means we have an in-depth understanding of how to assess social compliance issues in various industries. We have been approved as an SLCP Verifier Body since the launch of the initiative, meaning you can be entirely confident that you conform.

Our multidisciplinary experts provide you with a one-stop service for SLCP, so you can quickly complete the verification and receive your verified report.

Why choose TÜV SÜD?

TÜV SÜD is a world leader in social compliance auditing and has decades of experience assessing apparel and footwear supply chains.

Our services include:

• SLCP verification: 
  Conforming to the SLCP process requires footwear and apparel companies to complete a Self/Joint-Assessment by using the CAF data collection tool that answers questions about conditions in their facilities. The Self/Joint-Assessment is normally completed either offline on a spreadsheet or online using and accredited-host platform. This data must then be verified by an SLCP-approved body.
  
  As an approved Verifier Body, TÜV SÜD is authorised to review the data you provide. The approved SLCP verifiers will verify the data with an on-site visit and produce a valid verified assessment report for you.
• Joint assessment partner:
  We help you with the joint assessment through the completion of the CAF data collection tool.

The SLCP process consists of three stages:

1. Data Collection - As an approved Verifier Body, we can assist facility with completion of the Data Collection Tool in a joint assessment
2. Data Verification - Our approved Verifiers will check the correctness and completeness of the data gathered through the data collection tool
3. Data Hosting & Sharing - The verified data report can only be finalised by the facility itself or finalised automatically by the accredited host after 10 calendar report reviewing days. The verified data report can then be shared by multiple users (manufacturers and brands, for example) with the permission of the facility through the gateway and accredited hosts.