Fashion Adjudicator – Is This the Way Forward?

There is currently a call for an improvement in supply chain procurement practices within the fashion industry by the use of garment trade adjudicators. This is being spearheaded by Fiona Gooch, Senior Policy Adviser at Transform Trade, formerly Traidcraft Exchange.

Gooch reported to the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) over a year-ago that the ‘UK was one of the worst offenders for cancelling orders’ leaving suppliers financially vulnerable. There has also been sufficient evidence of UK garment factories underpaying staff and providing poor working conditions.

Gooch has devised a new adjudicator’s bill which is currently at the first stage and has a long way to go before it can be approved by parliament. The gross plan was issued in the last few days and the core focus is on reducing regulatory burdens and unnecessary barriers to trade. Current governance is deregulatory so the case for an adjudicator is going to be tough. 

Fashion-Enter Ltd does support the advancing of the bill and has made contact with David Camp, Chief Executive of allianceHR Ltd and the Association of Labour Providers Ltd.

A 2nd reading of the Fashion Supply Chain (Code and Adjudicator) Bill is due to be read on debated on 25th November 2022.