A long run-up - yet only a short leap forward. Discussion paper of Aktion fair spielt on the ICTI CARE Process
| 2009
Serious violations of national labor laws and internationally concerted social standards are rife in labor-intensive industries – especially in developing and emerging countries but also beyond. Trade unions and NGOs have kept records of these violations for years.
Against this backdrop it is commendable that the International Council of Toy Industries (ICTI) revised its original 1995 Code of Business Practices (ICTI Code) in 2001 and began to draw up a monitoring and certification program for factories, the ICTI CARE Process. The revised Code was intended to be the global benchmark for the entire industry.
David Hawtin, then President of ICTI and Director General of the British Toy and Hobby Association (BTHA), declared at the time: ‘The approval of this new Code represents the world-wide toy industry’s commitment to ensure further the protection of workers throughout the world.’
ICTI mandated its ICTI CARE Foundation to begin implementing the ICTI CARE Process in China. This is comprehensible since toys manufactured in China account currently for 80 percent of all toys traded worldwide.
The first factory inspections in the framework of the ICTI CARE Process took place in 2003. The first Seals of Compliance were awarded in 2004. 2,102 factories are currently registered for the Process and 1,054 factories are certified.
The discussion paper of the German toy campaign Aktion fair spielt presents the structural elements and procedures of the ICTI CARE Process and subjects them to a critical analysis. Finally, it sets out the minimum requirements regarded by Aktion fair spielt as indispensable prerequisites for an effective, credible and transparent ICTI Care Process.
Aktion fair spielt is a joint initiative of Misereor – the German Catholic Bishops’ Organization for Development Cooperation, the Catholic Workers’ Movement of Germany (Katholische Arbeitnehmer-Bewegung Deutschlands), the Catholic Women’s Association of Germany (Katholische Frauengemeinschaft Deutschlands), the Nuremberg Fair Toys Alliance (Nürnberger Bündnis Fair Toys) and Werkstatt Ökonomie.
Bibliographische Angaben:
Aktion fair spielt (2009): A long run-up - yet only a short leap forward.
Discussion paper of the German toy campaign Aktion fair spielt on the ICTI CARE Process,
Authors: Uwe Kleinert in cooperation with Elisabeth Strohscheidt,
Heidelberg/Aachen, November 2009, 19 p.
