Company profile: Transa Backpacking AG
Headquarters: Zurich
Country: Switzerland
Founded in: 1977
Total points of sale in Europe: 8
Owned by: n.a.
Name of CEO: Philipp Schnell
Product description: Outdoor- and Travel-apparel
Countries of production: n.a.
General remark: n.a.
Transa Backpacking AG
Ackerstrasse 21
8005 Zürich
philipp.schnell(at)transa.ch
Comments CCC and proposals for action
At the time of data collection in 2007, there was a lack of transparency from Transa regarding its responsibility towards its suppliers, thus we fear that the working conditions in the factories that produce for them could be very poor. Nonetheless, there is a social code from 2002 and in its magazine “Unterwegs” (On the Way), Transa offers general information on alternative tourism and social standards. Little transparency remains, however, as to whether the code is current and if or how it is implemented.
Take action: Share your misgivings with Transa that the social (and ecological) standards of its suppliers are truly being fulfilled and encourage Transa to join the FWF. Ask the sales personnel for products made from fair trade and organic cotton.
The following evaluation of the company’s performance in terms of transparency, code implementation and monitoring of labour standards is based on the company’s response to the questionnaire from the CCC and on an additional desk study conducted by the CCC in 2007. In the section “Recent developments” you can find additional information gathered after 2007.
Transparency
Transa Backpacking AG answered that it did not wish to respond to the CCC questionnaire. The company is in dialogue with some NGOs and/or trade unions. 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. There is no sustainability report available. Transa Backpacking AG 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
Transa Backpacking AG has adopted a code of conduct that requires compliance with all relevant local labour laws, but does not indicate that where local and international standards are at variance the higher standard should prevail. The code does not include a reference to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The company is formally committed to respecting minimum labour standards in accordance with ILO Core Conventions. These include the right to organise and bargain collectively and prohibit child labour, discrimination, and forced labour. The company does not make the code mandatory for all workplaces where its products are made. Transa Backpacking AG’s code of conduct does not apply to all workers affected by labour practices for which the company has some measure of responsibility. Beyond the ILO Core Conventions, the company is committed to workers’ right to earn 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). Overtime is stipulated to be occasional only and is paid at a premium rate The company’s code calls for a safe and hygienic environment for the workers who produce its garments and/or sportswear. The company explicitly requires that all workers receive a regular employment contract.
Beyond the labour standards mentioned above, the company code is not precise enough on some specific issues. It does not state its commitment in relation to*:
- special provisions for workers under 18 years of age (e.g. education, no night work);
- specific steps to encourage decent working conditions in countries where freedom of association and collective bargaining are restricted by law;
Code implementation and purchasing practices
Transa Backpacking AG did not indicate the steps it is taking to effectively implement minimum labour standards in its supply chain. The company has not disclosed whether its code of conduct has been translated into the languages of any of the countries it is sourcing from. There is no evidence that training on labour rights issues is promoted by Transa Backpacking AG. According to the information given Transa Backpacking AG has no intention to implement the payment of living wages to workers. Transa Backpacking AG 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 not a member of any business initiative. There is nothing known to CCC about monitoring results. The company is not involved in independent verification by a multi-stakeholder approach.
Violations of labour rights and public
There are no public urgent appeals from CCC calling on Transa Backpacking AG to take responsibility for workers’ rights violations in its supply chain.
Recent developments
In summer 2008 Transa got in touch with the CCC to develop its contact. Transa attributes its failure to fill out the questionnaire to various changes within Transa’s business management in 2007. In an email correspondence, the company discussed retrospectively how social and environmental behavior has been promoted (examples include sales personnel training, incentive systems for its employees to use public transportation, choice of location for the business and selected repair services of products as a contribution to a sustainable approach to handling resources). This commitment is certainly important; however, as a retailer without its own production, Transa carries a joint responsibility for the production of the goods that the company purchases. In regard to this matter, Transa has recently been in contact with the Fair Wear Foundation and has taken the first measures necessary to be considered for entrance into the FWF. Notwithstanding, Transa’s admission to the FWF is still pending.