Procurement
Procurement: A Catalyst for Ethical Change
Government procurement wields immense power to shape economies, societies, and communities. Australian governments at all levels have a unique opportunity to transform local industry, bolster the national economy, and create meaningful employment for skilled Australian workers.
The key lies in committing to ethical procurement policies and prioritising locally manufactured textile, clothing, and footwear items (including uniforms and PPE) from businesses accredited by Ethical Clothing Australia.
The Case for Local and Ethical Procurement
Australia’s textile, clothing, and footwear (TCF) industry is a significant economic contributor, injecting over $27.2 billion annually and employing nearly half a million people. However, “locally made” doesn’t always equate to “ethically produced.”
Globally and domestically, the TCF industry faces risks of poor labour conditions, exploitation, and modern slavery—primarily due to complex, often hidden, supply chains that jeopardise workers’ rights.
In Australia, these challenges are compounded by a heavily gendered workforce: over 70% of local garment workers identify as women, many from migrant, refugee, or asylum-seeking backgrounds with limited English proficiency. Particularly vulnerable are Outworkers—predominantly women operating from their homes with minimal oversight.
Despite Australia’s workplace laws, these workers remain susceptible to exploitation, ranging from workplace breaches through to conditions constituting modern slavery. This vulnerability stems from factors such as isolated working conditions, limited awareness of rights, and barriers to seeking support.
Every worker deserves to be treated with respect, to be paid fairly and to be safe at work.
The Benefits of Ethical Procurement
Ethical procurement offers benefits that extend beyond mere compliance, contributing to a stronger, more sustainable industry and society. By choosing locally and ethically sourced products, you can:
- Strengthen Local Manufacturing: Investing in local procurement creates jobs, develops a skilled Australian workforce, and promotes a resilient economy and thriving communities.
- Drive Stability and Innovation: Ethical procurement provides manufacturers with stability through long-term contracts and consistent demand, enabling investment in technologies, workforce development, and innovation for future growth.
- Safeguard Workers’ Rights: Ethical procurement ensures that every individual in the local supply chain—from design to dispatch—is protected, respected, and guaranteed fair pay, dignity, and workplace safety.
- Optimise Supply Chains: Procuring locally reduces environmental impact and reliance on international supply chains, minimising disruptions and ensuring a more reliable, sustainable supply of goods.
- Enhance Transparency: Ethical procurement supports businesses committed to transparent and ethical supply chain management, including a proactive approach to rectifying any breaches of relevant Australian workplace laws.
- Mitigate Risks: Sourcing from Ethical Clothing Australia-accredited businesses supports ethical practices, ensures compliance with relevant Australian workplace laws, and reduces legal and reputational risks.
The Ethical Clothing Australia Advantage
For 25 years, Ethical Clothing Australia has been at the forefront of safeguarding workers’ rights, demonstrating a proven track record of tangible, positive outcomes. Our rigorous accreditation programme is recognised as one of the strongest audit and accreditation certifications globally, helping businesses meet their obligations under the Textile, Clothing, Footwear, and Associated Industries (TCFAI) Award, and other relevant Australian workplace laws.
As a multi-stakeholder initiative, Ethical Clothing Australia brings together business, industry, and union expertise. This collaborative approach ensures that accredited businesses are deeply committed to worker dignity, respect, and contributing to a thriving local industry.
Leading by Example: The Power of Ethical Procurement
Procuring from an Ethical Clothing Australia-accredited business can assist in streamlining the tender approval process, expediting timelines and reducing the need for extensive due diligence and compliance checks.
Most importantly, it complements and reinforces the responsible procurement practices already adopted by governments at all levels—setting a powerful precedent for procurement that benefits local workers and their communities for generations to come.
Are you ready to lead the way and set a powerful example of ethical procurement? Contact us today.
Explore our Directory of accredited ethical businesses and for more information please visit: bit.ly/ethicalcorporateprocurement.
