The meeting was hosted by Mr. Chen Shujin, Vice Chairman of China National Textile and Apparel Council. Mr. Ou Xinqian, Deputy Director of National Development and Reform Commission, delivered a message at the meeting. Mr. Ou has always focused his attention on the development of corporate social responsibility in the textile and apparel industry with full support given to this endeavor. Mr. Du Yuzhou, Chairman of China National Textile and Apparel Council made a keynote speech as well. Mr. Sun Ruizhe, Vice Chairman of China National Textile and Apparel Council and Director of the Office for Promoting the development of social responsibility, gave a speech on the them of “People Orientation, Social Responsibility, and Scientific Development”. Mr. Yang Donghui, vice chairman of China National Textile and Apparel Council, Mr. Chen Dapeng, vice chairman and secretary general of China National Garment Association, Mr. Chen Weikang, vice chairman of the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and around 300 representatives from governments, labor unions, branded firms, retailers, manufacturing enterprises, international organizations, and media professionals attended the meeting.

          Mr. Ou Xinqian, Deputy Director of National Development and Reform Commission spoke highly of work carried out by China National Textile and Apparel Council in its promoting corporate social responsibility over the past two years. “In terms of how the pilot programs have been done, various regions and enterprises have achieved positive results through their careful organizing, detailed measures and strong problem-solving techniques. This has boosted the change of the idea of corporate management, improved the level of corporate management and core competitiveness and enhanced labor productivity and business efficiency, and it has also won good reputation at home and abroad and improved the international image of the industry,” said Mr. Ou.

         In addition, Mr. Ou Xinqian raised five points of opinion and requirements at the meeting. “It is necessary to stick to the principle of taking the enterprise as the main body combined with the guidance of the governments; stick to the standards combined with initiatives; stick to fulfilling social responsibility combined with the promotion of corporate development; stick to making key breakthroughs combined with overall development; and stick to actively carrying out international exchanges combined with actual cooperation”.

         Mr. Du Yuzhou, Chairman of China National Textile and Apparel Council pointed out, “The development of social responsibility of China’s textile and apparel industry is an internal requirement for sustainable development. It is also an important move to implement the scientific outlook on development and build an innovative industry. How to promote corporate innovation and improve labor productivity? The answer lies in developing the social responsibility of the industry, transforming the growth mode of the textile industry, standardizing corporate management by establishing rules and regulations, proposing practical solutions to meet the actual demand of the enterprise through studying hot issues and difficult problems, such as working hours, structure and calculation problems of wages, establishment of collective negotiation mechanism of the enterprise. All of these need to be addressed carefully and one by one in our future work.”

          Mr. Sun Ruizhe, Vice Chairman of China National Textile and Apparel Council also summarized the achievements and experience of China National Textile and Apparel Council in promoting the development of social responsibility in 2007:

Enterprises that have completed the establishment of the CSC9000T system have made remarkable achievements in their actual operations: according to the CSC9000T User Report submitted by the pilot enterprises, more than 95% of workers came back to work on time after the Spring Festival in 2007 and the staff turnover rate was quite low; the managerial system of the social responsibility elements was improved; relevant basic management was regulated; responsibilities and limits of authority were clarified; the efficiency of internal coordination was improved significantly with the help of necessary training and resources security; the controlling programs and schemes of working hours were developed and integrated into the performance assessment of various departments so that overtime working was under control to a certain extent.

           In addition, some pilot enterprises have benefited from the CSC9000T managerial system through their international cooperative projects, such as the cooperation between Gaiqi and Hudson Bay Co., Ruyi and Hugo Boss, Topnew and H&M, and Aimer and Harvard Business School.

            From May to July in Year 2007, the “10+100+1000” project was promoted among 9 industrial groups. More than 3600 corporate managers and employees from 940 enterprises took part in the training sessions of corporate social responsibility. Until now, 92 enterprises have completed the initial assessment of the CSC9000T system, among which 75 enterprises have received the training of system establishment. In the special training session of the Labor Contract Law, more than 100 managers from over 50 enterprises participated in the trainings held in Shenzhen and Shanghai. Meanwhile, China National Textile and Apparel Council has established an expert team of CSC9000T consisting of over 30 people.

            The achievements in developing social responsibility made by China National Textile and Apparel Council have been widely recognized by international communities. The council also conducted a series of cooperation with relevant international organizations:

           We cooperated with the IVAM Center of Amsterdam, Holland to carry out the project of “improving the environment performance and social responsibility of China’s textile and apparel industry”. More than 500 managers from 88 enterprises of Shandong participated in the special training session of social responsibility and environment performance in nearly two years.

           In 2007, we cooperated with ILO/UNIDO and 180 managers and employee representatives from 25 enterprises in three regions took part in the training of international labor standards and social responsibility management.

We signed a cooperative agreement on developing social responsibility with Foreign Trade Association (FTA) in May 2007 and conducted joint training to enhance social responsibility awareness for more than 400 companies in Shenzhen and Shanghai.

As to the international strategic cooperation and communication, China National Textile and Apparel Council signed a cooperative agreement on developing social responsibility with FTA in Beijing; the Council developed strategic cooperation with OECD, WRAP and US Disney company; we communicated and developed strategic cooperation plans with European Union (EU), FTA, Sweden Textile Importers’ Association, and many retailers and brand companies.

          The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs made the following comments in its first issue of Sustainable Development Innovation Briefs in February, 2007: “In China, officials have actively endorsed efforts to make the country a standard-setter, not simply a ‘taker’ of standards developed elsewhere. CSC9000T, a textile industry standard, was devel­oped within the China National Textile and Apparel Council with government endorsement and adopted in 2005. It is based on Chinese legislation and provides a management system for companies wishing to be socially responsible.”

           The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) made the following comments concerning China in its 2007 National Trade Assessment Report: “Reportedly, an increasing number of Chinese firms have realized the importance of social accountability, but they remain confused about various foreign corporate social accountability standards and certifications bodies that exist. The council formed CSC9000T to formulate Chinese corporate social responsibility standards to promote among Chinese firms. The standards are based on relevant Chinese legislation and regulations and reference international practices…                

           CSC9000T was designed to train its members to develop their optimal practicability in observing Chinese legislation, and it is not a certification or approval system.”

           CSC9000T was also awarded by relevant domestic authorities: in April 2007, a review meeting of the research achievements of CSC9000T was convened in Beijing; in May, National Development and Reform Commission issued a report to announce the progress in developing social responsibility of the textile and apparel industry; in November, CSC9000T won the first prize of the science and technology award of China National Textile and Apparel Council. 

            In summerizing the experience, achievements, and challenges of promoting the development of social responsibility in China’s textile and apparel industry, Mr. Sun Ruizhe pointed out the existing major problems and challenges: how to encourage enterprises to be socially responsible continuously? How to reduce factory examination and repeated examination or even eradicate examination? Should the small and medium-sized enterprises be allowed to develop social responsibility gradually, i.e. from general training to the management of relevant elements, and to the final establishment of the managerial system?

            In order to solve these problems and continuously promote the development of social responsibility of the industry, Mr. Sun Ruizhe proposed the “CSC9000T ‘200.8’ Plan” and the action plan to realize the general target: first, the total number of enterprises that implement, establish, or participate in the CSC9000T system should reach 200; second, improve the development of CSC9000T system; third, establish the value-added mechanism of performing socially responsible service. He also proposed the following eight measures for detailed implementation: implement the “10+100+1000” project; promote the CSC9000T system in key industries and enterprises (apparel and domestic textile industries); train the managerial staff for corporate social responsibility; upgrade, specify, and standardize CSC9000T; establish and promote the system of social responsibility report; promote international cooperation; continuously develop and optimize the performance database; provide special training and consultative service concerning the development of social responsibility, i.e. providing training and consultative service for enterprises, government authorities, industrial and social organizations concerning social responsibility.

            In the keynote speech on “Developing a Responsible Textile Supply Chain”, Mr. Heniz-Dieter Koepper, senior commissioner from FTA, gave a speech entitled “Solutions to a Responsible and Sustainable Textile Supply Chain”. Mr. Koepper said, “FTA and CNTAC will conduct in-depth trainings for 300 enterprises in July 2008 while implementing CSC9000T and BSCI. These trainings will target key elements such as management practice, working hours, wages and welfare, so that the competitiveness of China’s textile and apparel industry can be enhanced.”

Mr. Stuart Webster, Training Manager from Worldwide Responsible Accredited¡¡Production (WRAP) said, “The next step of WRAP is to consider the coordination and combination of various projects between WRAP and China National Textile and Apparel Council by means of a technical committee. Because both CSC9000T and WRAP are legal management solutions, it is very likely that these two can be integrated and mutually recognized.”

             During the forum on “Experience Sharing and Action Plans” hosted by Mr. Ren Yanyan, Deputy Director of China Textiles Development Center and Vice Director of the Office for Promoting the Development of Social Responsibility of China National Textile and Apparel Council, Mr. Yang Donghui, Vice Chairman of China National Textile and Apparel Council and China Domestic Textiles Association, Mr. Chen Dapeng, Viice Chairman and Secretary General of China National Garment Association, Mr. Shi Yunliang, Vice Mayor of Pinghu City, Zhejiang province, Mr. Shen Jixian, Secretary of the Party Committee of Puyuan Town, Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province, and Director of the Management Committee of the Puyuan sweater market of Tongxiang city, Zhejiang Province, Mr. Ye Zhiwei, Supervisor of the Quality Control Department of Glorious Sun Enterprises Limited, and other representatives shared experience and ideas on promoting the CSC9000T system. They also raised constructive opinions on how to carry out in-depth promotion of the CSC9000T system in their respective areas.

         China National Textile and Apparel Council also gave commendation to the advanced personages who made outstanding contributions to the development of social responsibility in China’s textile and apparel industry.          

         The 21^st century is a period when China is experiencing rapid development. Creating a scientific mechanism of development, improving the self-discipline in developing corporate social responsibility, and realizing the people-oriented and overall sustainable scientific development are the key to China’s success in the world. It is also a tremendous and long-lasting systematic project. China National Textile and Apparel Council will devote its utmost efforts to implementing the people-oriented, scientific outlook on development so as to make further contributions to the overall sustainable development of the textile industry, the rejuvenation of the Chinese economy, and the building of a harmonious society.

 

 

     

List of people who made great contributions to the development of social responsibility of China’s textile and apparel industry

£¨in no particular order£©