Electronics industry helps develop a
new social auditor programme

IRCA is teaming up with the global electronics industry to develop a social responsibility auditor programme for the sector’s supply chain. IRCA is working with the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC) and the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), which organize two of the most significant supply chain collaborations in the industry.

The collaboration aims to develop and deploy a worldwide auditor training and certification programme to support the EICC-GeSI system of monitoring supply chain social and environmental responsibility performance across the global information and communications technology sector.

The EICC is made up of more than 30 companies across the electronics sector that have come together to improve working conditions and environmental stewardship throughout the electronics supply chain. Members include well-known multinational companies such as HP, Apple, Microsoft, Sony and Dell.

Programme coordinator for EICC, Mike Vaudreuil, said: ‘Competent and consistent auditing is fundamental if stakeholders are to have confidence in any monitoring programme. Working with IRCA means that we can establish and enforce the competence and professionalism of EICC-GeSI auditors globally.’

IRCA deputy director, Vince Desmond, said: ‘IRCA’s Social Systems Auditor programme has quickly gained recognition with a diverse range of sectors including toy manufacturers, through our work with ICTI, and clothing producers, through our work with WRAP. IRCA is delighted to be supporting the EICC-GeSI initiative and working in the electronics sector.’

The new EICC-GeSI auditor certification programme will be available from early 2010.