ASOS said it will specifically focus on fashion apparel and accessories suppliers in India and will begin selling select products covered under the GoodWeave Standard in late 2023. Three strategic ASOS suppliers in India exporting fashion apparel and accessories will be enrolled in the programme, with further suppliers added in the months ahead, the retailer said.

Each supplier “will undergo audits and unannounced inspections” by dedicated GoodWeave staff trained to identify potential risks and issues of forced, bonded and child labour. “The new assessment strengthens ASOS’s current approach to understanding and addressing risks of child labour and modern slavery through auditing and local engagement, and builds on [our] other NGO partnerships working in this space, including The Centre for Child Rights and Business in China” ASOS said. Adil Rehman, Head of Ethical Trade at the firm, added: “There can be no place for forced, bonded or child labour in the fashion industry, but these risks are always present within complex global supply chains. With this new partnership with GoodWeave, we’re taking our modern slavery and ethical trade work one step further through assurance and deep supply chain mapping, helping us to ensure that workers are protected and their rights respected.”