01 - Understanding BSCI Governance

8/13/2019 01 - Understanding BSCI Governance

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Understanding the BSCIGovernance


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THIS TRAINING HAS BEEN EXTRACTED FROM THE

MANUAL ON BSCI GOVERNANCE, WHICH IS ITSELF

AN EXTRACT OF THE FOREIGN TRADE ASSOCIATION

(FTA) BY-LAWS. IN CASE OF CONTRADICTION, THE

LATTER APPLIES. IT COMES INTO FORCE 1 JANUARY2014 AND OVERRULES THE PREVIOUS VERSIONS OF

BSCI RULES AND FUNCTIONING FROM BOTH 2012

AND 2009.


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Who are BSCI Participants?: These are commercial entities such as retailers or importers, which

are members of FTA and endorse the Business Social ComplianceInitiative (BSCI) .

They are committed to the values and principles set out in the BSCICode of Conduct and to meeting, within their sphere of influence,their responsibilities to respect human rights.

They pursue a constructive and open dialogue among businesspartners and stakeholders in order to reinforce the principles ofsocially responsible business

They see the building of mature industrial relations betweenworkers and management as being key for sustainable business

BSCI Participants are subjected to the BSCI CommitmentFormula as well as to the Terms of Implementation forParticipants annexed to the BSCI Code of Conduct.


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The BSCI Structure


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1. The BSCI Secretariat

The secretariat is run by the Foreign Trade

Association. Its tasks revolve around the

administration of the initiative and include:

Provide support and advice to the BSCI Participants in all

areas related to the implementation of the BSCI Code of

Conduct.

Coordination and preparation of the different Governance

Bodies meetings.

Developing and updating all relevant policies, procedures

and implementation tools.


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2. The BSCI Steering Committee

The role of the BSCI Steering Committee is set out accordingto Title XII of the FTA by-laws:

The BSCI Steering Committee shall always be composed of

nine (9) members, who shall be Representatives of OrdinaryMembers being companies using services related to theBSCI. Each member of the BSCI Steering Committee mustbe:

A senior executive (i.e. coming from senior/top-level

management) of his/her Ordinary Member; and

An expert regarding services related to the BSCI;


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Diversity Balance in the BSCI The members of the BSCI Steering Committee

must represent the diversity of the OrdinaryMembers being companies using servicesrelated to the BSCI regarding their size (i.e.Ordinary Members Annual Turn-over): 5 members must represent each an ordinary member

with an annual turnover of over one (1) Billion EUR.

3 members must represent each an ordinary memberwith an annual turnover of between 100 million EUR

and 1 billion EUR. 1 member must represent an ordinary member with an

annual turnover of between 500,000 EUR and 100million EUR.

Companies with a turnover of less than 50,000 EUR arenot eligible to proscribe for BSCI Services.


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About the Committee Members BSCI Steering Committee members are selected by BSCI Participants

and appointed by the FTA Board of Directors.

Two members of the BSCI Steering Committee are represented in the

FTA Board of Directors.

The BSCI Steering Committee must elect a Chairman among one of

its members.

The BSCI Steering Committee convenes as often as necessary, but at

least twice a year.

Decisions are taken by simple majority.

Members of the BSCI Steering Committee are elected for a three year

term. They can be re-elected to the Committee up to two times, for atotal of nine years.


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Tasks of the BSCI Steering Committee1. Running the BSCI activities (including legal framework)

within the given budget and drafting an annual action plan

regarding the BSCI activities;

2. Appointing and revoking the members of the Stakeholder

Council;

3. Upon proposal of the Stakeholder Council, appointing and

revoking one (1) member of the Stakeholder Council as

observer at the BSCI Steering Committee;

4. Establishing and delegating tasks to one or more Working

Group(s) and the overseeing of this/these;

5. Proposing to the Board of Directors the determination of the

terms and conditions of the status and the relations with

national contact groups;


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Tasks of the BSCI Steering Committee..6. Consulting the National Contact Groups (NCG) for which

the Board of Directors has determined the terms and

conditions of the status and the relations;

7. Cooperating with other organisations and stakeholders

regarding the BSCI activities at different levels;

8. Consulting with the BSCI Secretariat regarding the

appointment of one or more candidate(s) Secretary(ies) and

the revocation of one or more Secretary(ies);

9. Proposing to the Board of Directors to establish BSCI contact

persons in supplier countries;

10.Monitoring the implementation of the commitments of the

BSCI Participants;


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Tasks of the BSCI Steering Committee..11.Proposing to the Board of Directors sanctions vis--vis the

BSCI Participants

12.Deciding on issues related to the implementation of the BSCI

Code of Conduct including the tools and integrity

requirements;

13.Proposing to the Board of Directors the adoption of

amendments to the BSCI Code of Conduct;

14.Proposing to the Board of Directors the adoption and regular

update of a list of Risk Countries;

15.Organising a BSCI annual conference.


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3. The BSCI Working Groups Are appointed by the Steering Committee

Are appointed to address specific issues regarding the BSCI.

The BSCI Steering Committee determines the mission,composition, powers, conduct of meetings and governance,convocations modalities and drafting of agendas, quorums

and voting procedures, and drafting of minutes of the WorkingGroup(s).

They report to the steering committee at prescribed timelinesor due to the exigencies of the work they have been given.

Currently, there are Working Groups on:

System

Auditing

Capacity Building

Food and Primary Production

Communication


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Working Groups Meetings Working Group meetings are normally held in Brussels.

On an exceptional basis, the Working Group chair can decide that a meetingbe held in another city.

Working Group meetings can also be held through telephone conferences,video conferences or other technical means of communication.

Based on the request/mandate of the BSCI Steering Committee, theWorking Group chair in cooperation with the responsible BSCI secretariatstaff will define the agenda and support documentation which will be sent to

the Working Group members at least one week before a meeting. The Working Group(s) may invite one or more third party(ies) to attend

without voting rights to one or more meeting(s) or part(s) of meeting(s) of theWorking Group(s).

Any member of the BSCI Steering Committee shall have the right to attendthe meetings of the Working Group(s) without a voting right but with the rightto be heard.

A member of a working group may be excluded at the discretion of thesteering committee, or if they fail to attend 3 consecutive meetings

A member can be reinstated if they show evidence that they will attendfuture meetings.


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4.0 Stakeholder Council The BSCI Steering Committee shall appoint the members of the

Stakeholder Council.

A stakeholder council shall constitute of non-members of theBSCI who can come from: Trade Unions

Stakeholder NGOs operating in more than one (1) country.

Associations, organisations, foundations, or federations active in

suppliers, import or export business; Governments; and

International institutions or organisations.

The members of the Stakeholder Council are appointed for a

three (3) years term, renewable twice. Their mandate shall benon-remunerated.

The Stakeholder Council shall appoint a chairperson amongstits members.


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4.0 Stakeholder Council If the chairperson is unable or unwilling to chair the Stakeholder

Council, the Stakeholder Council shall be chaired by the oldest

member of the Stakeholder Council present. Non-members of the council can be invited, without votingrights, to attend meetings or parts of meetings of the council

Any Member, director, and/or member of the BSCI SteeringCommittee shall have the right to attend the meetings of the

Stakeholder Council without a voting right but with the right tobe heard.

A representative of the BSCI Secretariat participates in themeetings of the BSCI Stakeholder Council in order to inform itsmembers about project development.

Upon request, the members of the BSCI Stakeholder Councilhave access to all available BSCI documents (Confidentially).


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4.0 Stakeholder Council Powers.. Granted by the FTA by-laws.

Their Powers include:

Proposing to the BSCI Steering Committee the appointment of one (1)member of the Stakeholder Council as candidate to be an observer at

the BSCI Steering Committee.

Upon request of the BSCI Steering Committee, providing advice to it on

any issue

Providing advice to the steering committee on; The amendments of the BSCI Code of Conduct;

Issues related to the implementation of the BSCI Code of

Conduct including the tools and integrity requirements; and

The cooperation with other organisations and stakeholders

regarding BSCI activities at different levels.


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5.0 National Contact Groups

National Contact Groups (NCG) are not

governance bodies of the BSCI.

However, they play a critical role in promoting

the values and principles of the BSCI and

enhancing dialogue among the BSCIParticipants and Stakeholders at their

respective national level.

They are regulated by the BSCI NationalContact Groups Terms and Conditions.


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Documents

01 - Understanding BSCI Governance