Labor Day: A Time to Recognize Workers  

Labor Day, established in the wake of the American Industrial Revolution and the harsh conditions workers had to endure, lands on the first Monday of September. The national holiday recognizes the contribution of the U.S. workforce and the historic push for safe and fair working conditions.

Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) is the largest social compliance audit and certification program for the sewn and soft goods industry, ensuring safe, lawful, humane, and ethical workplaces for millions of workers around the globe. WRAP’s certification program, guided by Die 12 Grundsätze von WRAP, assesses whether a facility follows international and local laws.

For example, Principle 5: Compensation and Benefits requires any WRAP-certified facility to pay at least the minimum total compensation required by local law to their employees. The principle extends to any premiums for overtime work or holidays, as well as any allowances or benefits.

Principle 6: Hours of Work protects workers against extensive and unlawful working hours. WRAP-certified facilities must adhere to any limits set on regular working hours, as well as any limits set on overtime work by local law. WRAP also provides value through its Working Hour Action Plan, a tool designed to help alleviate challenges with excessive working hours, WRAP works directly with facilities to define an action plan to systematically reduce overtime.

Over its 25-year history, WRAP has evolved with the social compliance landscape, helping to transform various industries and promote transparent global supply chains. See the benefits WRAP certification provides and hear directly from workers at Lakshmi Manufacturing EPZ, a facility in Nairobi, Kenya which manufactures knitted and woven garments.