The brand I consider buying claims to be sweatshop-free and committed to workers’ rights. Can I trust it?

Brands promises, often presented in “codes of conduct”, vary in content and levels of commitment. They are standards set by the brand itself which cannot be enforced in court. 

Thus, in practice, they’re just fine words on a website, allowing brands to claim their ‘commitment’ to labour rights without actually doing anything meaningful towards it. 

For example, many brands commit to paying living wages in their codes of conduct while relying on a supply chain that pays poverty wages. 

Instead of fluffy codes, brands’ promises should be enshrined in binding contracts with unions that provide legally enforceable remedies.