Company profile: Voice Norge AS
Headquarters: Voice Norge AS Pb. 3467 Bjølsen 0406 Oslo
Country: Norway
Founded in: n.a.
Total points of sale in Europe: n.a.
Owned by: Gresvig Holding AS
Name of CEO: Sverre Helno
Product description: Brands: Voice of Europe, Boys of Europe, VIC, Match, Voice and Popin (Popin part of Voice Norge since August 2007)
Countries of production: Production countries are not known
General remark: n.a.
Voice Norge AS
Fredrik Pb. 3467 Bjølsen
0406 Oslo
voice(at)voice.no
Comment from CCC and proposals for action
Voice Norge AS has not responded to the CCC questionnaire sent in 2007. As a result information on Voice’s possible efforts to improve working conditions in its supply chain is not available to consumers. Although Voice is a member of the Norwegian multi stakeholder initiative Initiativ for etisk handel since 2003, it is yet unclear whether the company has adopted a code of conduct that is based on acknowledged international conventions and standards (ILO conventions for working conditions and UN conventions for human rights).
The CCC strongly recommends Voice to be transparent on information about the company’s CSR policy and implementation, and respond to surveys from labour rights and consumer organisations. As a first step Voice is strongly recommended to display a code of conduct on its web page, together with an annual social report and the company’s suppliers’ list.
The CCC strongly recommends Voice to take immediate and concrete steps towards ethical management of its operations and sourcing. The code of conduct should clearly express a pro-active and positive attitude towards freedom of association and collective bargaining and workers’ right to a living wage (i.e. a wage for standard working hours that meets the basic needs of workers and their families and provides some discretionary income). As well Voice should clearly establish its own obligations and adapt responsible purchasing practices (e.g. realistic deadlines to prevent excessive overtime, long term supplier contracts for stability and gaining better insight in working conditions, and a price that allows for the payment of a living wage). Further the company should establish procedures for implementation, monitoring and verification by an independent party (for further information, see http://www.cleanclothes.org/codes/index.htm). These procedures should include a mechanism to handle complaints in a safe and efficient way. Finally, the workers and their representatives should be given the opportunity to engage with trade unions and NGOs in developing in-depth education and training programmes on workers rights.
The recommendations above should not be perceived as exhaustive but as steps on a road to a more ethical supply chain.
Due to the lack of response by Voice Norge AS to the CCC questionnaire, the following evaluation of the company’s corporate accountability policy is entirely based on a desk study conducted by the CCC in 2007. In the section “Recent developments” you can find additional information gathered after 2007.
Transparency
Voice Norge AS has not responded to CCC’s request for information on its corporate accountability policy. There is no evidence that the company engages with civil society on corporate accountability issues. The amount of salaries of the top management is not known. The information given about producer countries and the structure of the supply chain is not comprehensive. A sustainability report is publicly available but it does not meet international reporting standards (GRI). Voice Norge AS provides neither the results of factory audits nor information about verification activities. The company does not disclose general targets for future monitoring activities.
Formal commitment to labour standards
Voice Norge AS doesn't commit in a public document to respect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the national law. The company has not adopted a code of conduct. Beyond the ILO Core Conventions, the company is neither committed to wages in accordance with living wage principles nor with minimum wage legislation. There are no restrictions on the number of working hours per week. No mention is made of a safe and hygienic environment for the workers who produce the company’s garments and/or sportswear. The company does not explicitly require that all workers receive a regular employment contract. *
Code implementation and purchasing practices
Voice Norge AS did not indicate the steps it is taking to effectively implement minimum labour standards in its supply chain. There is no evidence that training on labour rights issues is promoted by Voice Norge AS. According to the information given Voice Norge AS has no intention to implement the payment of living wages to workers. Voice Norge AS has not shown that it is aware of the fact that part of its production sites are located in countries or zones where freedom of association is not guaranteed by law. There are no provisions to give buyers positive incentives to reward better working conditions. There are no measures that show how to improve planning and prevent excessive overtime.
Monitoring and Verification
The company is involved in the multi-stakeholder approach coordinated by the local MSI.
Violations of labour rights and public conflicts
There are no public urgent appeals from CCC calling on Voice Norge AS to take responsibility for workers’ rights violations in its supply chain.
Recent developments
n.a.