GAP's discharge of social responsibilities pay dividends

14 Jul '05

5 min read

As part of a statement included in the report, the working group said: "We believe that Gap Inc. has made substantial progress in focusing on the connections between its core business, systemic global concerns and workers' lives."

The report places particular emphasis on the continued evolution of Gap Inc.'s extensive factory monitoring program, which employs more than 90 people around the world, most of whom are Vendor Compliance Officers (VCOs) who visit factories, conduct inspections, document violations and work with garment manufacturers to improve conditions on a daily basis.

In 2004, Gap Inc monitored 99.9% of garment factories approved for production for all of fiscal year 2004 – up from 94% in 2003. Gap Inc. also invited Social Accountability International (SAI) and Verité to conduct thorough assessments of its monitoring program and inspection protocols. Insights from the analyses are helping the company drive continued improvement in its monitoring techniques and strategies.

Gap Inc's 2004 report also outlines how the company is working to integrate labor standards into its business practices and supply chain operations by building closer relationships with garment manufacturers, reducing inefficiencies in its supply chain process and re-evaluating its purchasing practices. For example, in 2004, the company hosted its first-ever Vendor Summit, a forum designed to share business and sourcing strategies as well as set expectations with top garment manufacturers from around the world.

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