Responsibility through Collaboration

Thanks to overlapping supply chains, the Consortium can help public entities to achieve sweatfree purchasing cheaper and more effectively than they can on their own.  For example, investigating alleged labor rights violations at one factory on behalf of several public entities costs the same as investigating these violations on behalf of a single public entity.  A consortium of public entities can share the expenses of factory investigations and other monitoring activities.  In addition, a larger market will provide greater incentives to vendors to comply with code of conduct requirements.

Benefits of Sweatfree Purchasing

•    Good jobs are good for the economy
•    Responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars
•    Supports citizens’ values and human rights

Consortium Services

•    Cost-efficient factory monitoring through collaboration
•    List of compliant vendors and manufacturers
•    Technical and educational services, including model policies and best practice guidelines

For further detail on benefits and services, please contact Bjorn Claeson at 207-262-7277.

"As it grows, the sweatfree market will create more qualified vendors and sweatfree workplaces, and help to foster better conditions for increasing numbers of workers. The rules of competition will no longer favor businesses that produce the cheapest possible goods at the expense of workers, but those that provide good value without unlawfully sacrificing humane working conditions and disregarding workers' human and labor rights."