Case Studies
IBLF – Vietnam Business Links Initiative
The Vietnam Business Links Initiative (VBLI) was set up by The Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF), shoe manufacturers, governments, multilateral agencies and health and safety agencies in 1999 in order to improve working conditions in the footwear industry.
The partnership has brought improved standards to 60 per cent of the footwear factories in Vietnam.
In March 2006, IBLF’s Crossing Borders programme – which brings business leaders face-to-face with business and community partnerships – arranged a visit to one of the footwear factories with which VBLI has partnered for Lesley Roberts, Group Business Standards Manager at Pentland and chair of the CSR Committee at the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry.
Lesley has been involved with VBLI since its inception seven years ago. Visiting the factory strengthened her long-held view that the project’s success depends on a genuine long-term commitment across sectors and ensuring that the systemic change in the footwear industry is based on consensus.
“During my visit to the factory it was clear to me that investment in health and safety equipment had been made and I welcome this. However, I also saw that this investment is not yet properly used or understood.
“This is precisely why the long-term commitment of footwear brands and non-governmental organisations is so important.
”Investing in hardware is easy; the hard part is developing habits and working cultures that use it appropriately to achieve the intended improvement in working conditions.
”This only happens over a period of time and requires continued engagement of the sort VBLI and its partners have committed to.”
Click here to visit the IBLF website.