Annual Brand Performance Check by Fair Wear Foundation

Things like an 8-hour working day and safe labour conditions are all very normal to us, but unfortunately these conditions are far from standard in many other countries. Fair Wear Foundation is a non-profit organisation that dedicates itself to create fair labour conditions in the textile sector. 

Brand Performance Check by FWF

HAVEP has been a member of FWF since 2004 and makes huge efforts to improve labour conditions in the textile industry. 

In order to implement real changes to the clothing industry, a change is needed on various levels. FWF focuses mainly on the management level of clothing brands. FWF checks its members every year to see to how well their management system fits FWF’s Code of Labour Practices. 

FWF carries out various interviews on management level and visits the locations where the clothing is made as part of a Brand Performance Check. These workshops often work for many different clothing brands, which generally means that the influence of one particular brand is limited. 

That’s why FWF doesn’t just look at the actual effect of its members’ policy, but also looks at the intentions, the efforts and future plans.

At HAVEP we have our clothing made in workshops that are located in Macedonia and Tunisia. Workshops we work close with, so that we can have a better grip on the circumstances under which our work clothing is made.  

Going for Leader Status

FWF awards a benchmarking score based on their findings. A brand can receive the following scores: 

• Needs improvements
• Good
• Leader Status

For our efforts in 2017 we scored Good, a score we are very proud of. We were awarded a benchmarking score of 71, a huge improvement compared to 2016!  

It also means that we’re only a few points away from Leader Status. This leader status is awarded to companies that perform exceptionally well in complex areas like living wages and freedom of association. 

We are confident that we can achieve leader status in 2018. Especially now we already pay living wages in our workshop in Macedonia. 
 

FWF’s judgement 

FWF’s benchmark report about HAVEP is 35 pages long. Read the full report here. Below you’ll find the report’s summary, written by FWF:  

“In 2017, Havep met most of FWF’s performance requirements. With 85% of its supply base under monitoring, Havep meets the threshold for member companies after their 3rd year of membership. Havep has reached a benchmarking score of 71, placing them in the ‘Good’ category.

Havep has a stable supplier base, which was further consolidated by implementing a new sourcing strategy by the end of 2017. The result is an increase from six to nine main suppliers fully dedicated to Havep's production in countries Macedonia and Tunisia. The vision for the long-term relationship is further strengthened with these suppliers and Havep is in regular contact with them via weekly visits by its local staff and regularly visits by headquarter staff and the management team. Havep has strong production planning systems in place and works closely with suppliers to adjust orders when necessary. Havep also knows the cost-per-minute for each of its garments, which helps to ensure that orders placed are feasible.

In 2017, several major changes were made in the Havep's management team. In May a new CEO and in December a new COO were appointed. Aside from having a 100% female management team, the new company vision brought a modern, innovative, sustainable and focused company strategy. The clear objectives that are drawn up and implemented each year are called Rocks (BIG 5). Also, since 2017, Havep no longer burns or dumps any textile waste. The textile waste from the workshops is collected and sent back to the Netherlands. From the head office the textile waste is delivered to a manufacturer of boxing balls and punch bags. Furthermore, the company is involved in its community and currently employs one asylum seeker with a residence permit. In addition, HAVEP actively contributes to the ‘Annetje van Puijenbroek Foundation’. This is a foundation with the aim of supporting individuals and smaller organisations, projects and initiatives.”