In this support article, we explain how different stakeholders - facilities, Verifier Bodies and Verifiers, Brands, and Verification Oversight Organization (VOO) - are involved and contribute to the SLCP Assessment process.
In the article below we explain how each of the key stakeholders involved contributes to the SLCP Assessment process.
Facilities
A core principle of the SLCP assessment process is facility ownership. Facilities therefore play an active role in the SLCP assessment process. They initiate the process, own the verified data resulting from the process and decide with whom they want to share it.
This means that:
- Facilities complete a self/joint-assessment prior to verification on the Accredited Host of their choice. The self/joint-assessment helps to build understanding of their social and labor data. Facilities are encouraged to include workers in this process.
- Facilities choose the Verifier Body that will conduct their verification (and usually pay for the verification costs).
- Facilities own their SLCP verified assessment and decide how to share it and with whom.
On the Gateway a public list is available that includes all facilities registered on the Gateway and where the facilities are in the assessment process. To get access to their verified data, you need to contact them. Click to view the list of manufacturers that use SLCP verified data.
Verifier Bodies (VBs) and Verifiers
A Verifier is a person approved to conduct an SLCP verification, to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the data collected through self-/joint-assessment of facilities.
A Verifier Body (VB) is an organization approved to conduct SLCP verifications. All Verifiers must work for a Verifier Body. The VB is responsible for:
- Ensuring the quality and integrity of their Verifier's SLCP verification
- Training Verifiers on SLCP, technical and social skills needed for verification, and integrity
- Assigning Verifiers when a verification is requested by the facility
The Verification Oversight Organization (VOO) is responsible for the VB and Verifier selection process. If you are an aspiring VB/Verifier, start the application process here.
Facilities can select a VB that appears on their Selection list on the Active Accredited Host platform. More information about the VB Selection model can be found here. If you're a facility looking for information on how to select and choose VB for your verification please visit this section. For a full list of all SLCP Verifier Bodies, please go here.
Brands
Brands that commit to accepting SLCP verified data can communicate this via the Brands Acceptance list on our website. The list indicates from which countries and tiers brands accept SLCP verified data from their suppliers. Brands can also state which Tool Step needs to be completed for facilities to share the data.
We ask that a brand that chooses to accept SLCP verified data:
- Communicates this with their suppliers and redirects them to the SLCP e-learning and Helpdesk for guidance.
- Accepts any SLCP approved Verifier Body to verify the data (the choice is made by the facility).
- Does not conduct duplicative social compliance audits.
- Redirects resources saved to improvement actions.
Facilities can use this template letter to convince buyers that are not already accepting SLCP verified data to do so. Also, if a brand communicates that they are accepting but are nevertheless refusing SLCP verified data, the facility can use this form to inform us (and start an investigation). Click to view the list of brands that accept SLCP verified data.
Verification Oversight Organization (VOO)
The Verification Oversight Organization (VOO) oversees the quality and integrity of the verification process. They do this by conducting a thorough Verifier selection process and Quality Assurance (QA) activities.
The VOO manages the Verifier Body (VB) and Verifier selection process. The VOO has criteria to pre-select candidate Verifiers, who then need to follow training and pass an exam to demonstrate skill and experience. The VOO also applies scoring to assess VB and Verifier performance. The following sources of data on Verifier performance are used to calculate the Verifier Score:
- Verifier exam scores (in absence of QA data)
- Desktop Review outcomes
- Counter Verification outcomes
- Shadow Verification outcomes
- Facility feedback
- Brand/report user feedback
- Disputes
Each Verifier is assigned a score (all scores are from 0 to 5). VB scoring is an accumulation of the individual Verifier Scores. Other information relating to VB quality may also be included such as complaints received. The VOO shares the overall VB score as well as individual Verifier scores with each VB separately through a VB dashboard. VB dashboards are private, the public Quality Assurance Dashboard gives aggregated information on VB scores and other QA performance indicators.
To assess quality after verification, the VOO uses a mix of Quality Assurance activities (i.e., desktop reviews, shadow/counter/duplicate verifications, VB management checks). Outcomes feed into VB and Verifier scoring and, in the worst case scenario, can lead to invalidation of a report and/or suspension of a VB/Verifier. Moreover, QA activities offer valuable insights into SLCP system user behavior; application of the SLCP Converged Assessment Framework (CAF); and the workings of the Gateway and Accredited Host platforms. QA learnings have resulted and continue to result in numerous system and process improvements. More information about QA activities in the Quality Assurance Manual.
At present, the Verification Oversight Organization (VOO) is Sumerra. Contact them by sending an email to slcp@sumerra.com.