China: Unions conduct social audit of Faber-Castell plant

A team comprising BWI Assistant Education Secretary Jasmin Redzepovic, Jochen Schroth (Head of IG Metall’s Transnational Trade Union Policy Department), and Klaus-Dieter Winnerlein (first authorised representative of IG Metall West Central Franconia) conducted a social audit alongside representatives of the management at the Faber-Castell plant, including a supplier and dormitories for migrant workers from China, from 21  to23 November 2023 in Guangzhou, China.

The visit was well-prepared by the global and local management of Faber-Castell, including Armin Spreitzer (Vice President Corporate Quality Management), Victor Wong (Managing Director China), and Echo Yang (HR Manager China). The audit team had the opportunity to visit various facilities and engage with workers.

Recommendations from the previous social audit in 2017 were followed up, with improvements noted in the working environment, employment conditions, and dormitories for workers with a distant home base. Discussions covered occupational health and safety issues. Considering the impact of climate change and heat stress at work, practical measures were recommended for reducing temperatures at workstations during hot days. Special attention was given to the health and safety of workers employed by Faber-Castell's suppliers, who committed to complying with the Code of Conduct of Faber-Castell.

After the visit, Schroth stated, "social audits are a suitable instrument for checking compliance with the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act. This is important for Faber-Castell and its approximately 6,500 workers, along with thousands of workers employed by suppliers worldwide, as human and environmentally friendly due diligence in the supply chain concerns us all."

BWI has negotiated more than 20 international framework agreements (IFAs) with MNCs and continues to enhance them in subsequent renewals.

The International Framework Agreement signed between Faber-Castell AG, IG Metall, and BWI in March 2000 (updated in 2008) plays a pivotal role in ensuring worldwide workers' rights and the respect of ILO Core Labour Standards. Faber-Castell was among the pioneers in concluding the IFA (Social Charta) in the pencil industry in Germany, followed by other companies. Social audits are conducted in regular cycles. Faber-Castell AG stands as the world’s largest pencil manufacturer.