Workwear Group is upholding its commitment to manufacturing integrity through its Group Trust and Verify Audit Program, which has been successfully implemented in China, India and Bangladesh.

The program was first implemented in China in FY19 by Workwear Group’s in-country Quality team to address a case of sub-contracting, with sub-contracting known to introduce risks such as unauthorised production, quality issues, and ethical concerns such as labour exploitation or environmental violations. The program was subsequently rolled out in India in August 2021 and Bangladesh in January 2022.

Group Trust and Verify Audits are conducted on apparel suppliers located in high-risk countries to verify production is occurring at Workwear Group-authorised factories. This is achieved by auditing purchase orders, which allows Workwear Group to confirm the work specified in the order is being carried out internally at the designated stage of manufacturing, rather than being subcontracted out to external parties without authorisation. The audit also includes a set of questions that cover Modern Slavery and Ethical Sourcing program requirements.

The process acts as both a risk assessment and traceability tool. It guides compliance with subcontracting regulations and helps to maintain control over the production process.

If the audit raises any issues, Workwear Group works with the supplier to remediate the situation. An exit strategy is used as a last resort if remediation efforts have been exhausted and unsuccessful. 

Workwear Group has conducted 2,892 audits since the program commenced in 2019, including 1,063 in FY24. A further 700 audits are estimated to occur during the next financial year. 

The Group Trust and Verify Audit Program is embedded at Workwear Group’s core and strategic suppliers based in the key sourcing locations of China, India and Bangladesh, where the bulk of all purchase orders are manufactured. The successful implementation of the program demonstrates Workwear Group’s commitment to upholding manufacturing integrity and minimising risks associated with subcontracting. Through this program, Workwear Group has strengthened its supply chain management practices and is able to maintain high-quality standards across its global supply operations.

Workwear Group has plans to further expand the program in future. Video audits were trialled for suppliers in Fiji, Sri Lanka and Indonesia in FY21 and will be rolled out as part of the Group Trust and Verify Audit Program in FY25. Workwear Group plans to implement the program with local Australian manufacturing suppliers in FY25.