Global Labor Practices FAQ

Who is responsible for ensuring fair labor practices in local factories?

A number of parties have responsibilities to ensure fair labor practices. Tommy Hilfiger has a Code of Conduct, which reflects important labor standards and requires all authorized manufacturers to comply with our Code of Conduct and to be evaluated by factory inspections.

However, we cannot do this alone, especially considering the great diversity of labor standards throughout the world. National governments and local manufacturers have a major responsibility in enforcing and upgrading labor standards with their local factories.

I have heard Tommy Hilfiger does not respect labor standards. Is that true?

That is not true. Because our company is well known worldwide, Tommy Hilfiger is an attractive target for individuals and organizations that want to increase public awareness and media attention on issues that concern them. While we do not always agree with the tactics employed by some of these groups, we share their goal to improve factory conditions and protect workers' rights.

This is why we have established a Code of Conduct, a set of strict labor standards, compliance with which is evaluated by a worldwide Monitoring Program.

Why does it seem so difficult to ensure fair labor practices at the factories making your products?

The complexity of the global economy creates enormous challenges. There is great diversity among the factories we do business with, the countries where clothes are manufactured and the garment workers themselves. Nonetheless, we make our position to factories clear: it is their responsibility to comply with our Code of Conduct. But no single company can guarantee that every factory complies with every regulation all the time. If a company is prepared to seriously evaluate compliance with standards, then it must expect to find and be prepared to address instances of non-compliance.

For more information on Tommy Hilfiger's global labor standards and commitments, please contact us at globallaborstandards@tommy.com .