{"id":60944,"date":"2025-11-04T16:09:26","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T16:09:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fairlabor.org\/?p=60944"},"modified":"2025-11-24T19:51:30","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T19:51:30","slug":"fla-members-and-stakeholders-engage-in-berlin-around-pressing-global-labor-rights-issues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fairlabor.org\/fla-members-and-stakeholders-engage-in-berlin-around-pressing-global-labor-rights-issues\/","title":{"rendered":"FLA members and stakeholders engage in Berlin\u00a0around\u00a0pressing global labor rights issues"},"content":{"rendered":"
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From October 28-30, the Fair Labor Association (FLA) hosted its October Board Convening and Stakeholder Conference in Berlin, Germany. Approximately 125 FLA members and affiliates, along with key regional and international stakeholders and staff, gathered for three days of education and discussion on today\u2019s most pressing labor issues in global supply chains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are committed to helping our members navigate uncertainty. And even as tariff upheaval, regulatory changes, and economic trends shift the ground under our feet, we continue to innovate and move forward\u2026. This is unquestionably a difficult time to advance human rights, but our work is more crucial than ever,” said FLA President and CEO Jeff Vockrodt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the board meeting, FLA thanked outgoing Board Chair Michael Posner for his dedication to the organization. Posner served as chair from 2017 \u2013 2025, offering valuable guidance and leadership through FLA milestones, including strengthening its accreditation programs, launching the Fair Compensation Toolkit, and establishing the flagship Harvesting the Future initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrom the organization\u2019s earliest days, when FLA was a groundbreaking new model, to his service as board chair, Mike has played a fundamentally important role in making our work both possible and effective,\u201d said Vockrodt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Offering thanks to FLA members, fellow board members, and staff, Posner reflected on the value that FLA\u2019s multistakeholder model provides its member organizations. \u201cWe are three different constituencies, but we manage to navigate our differences. That\u2019s what makes the organization special,\u201d said Posner. \u201cI want to say what an honor and a privilege it\u2019s been to chair this board.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, FLA welcomed incoming Board Chair Chris Lu<\/a>. Lu, who served as former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Labor and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations for Management, brings a lifelong commitment to public service to FLA. \u201cThis work is deeply meaningful to me personally. I\u2019m honored to be entrusted with the role of chair, and I look forward to working with all of you to build on FLA\u2019s robust foundation as we continue to grow and innovate,\u201d said Lu. \u201cOur impact is multiplied when we work together to act courageously.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The board celebrated new members that have joined FLA, including Fresno State University<\/a> and Initiative for Women\u2019s Empowerment<\/a>, and welcomed new board member Julie Vallat from L\u2019Oreal. They also discussed the future of the FLA Europe Committee structure and activities, under the leadership of new FLA Europe Chair Yves Fl\u00fcckiger, and future FLA projects \u2013 including expanding work in upstream supply chains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the week, FLA leaders and experts from partner organizations convened a variety of panels for event attendees on key labor topics impacting members, including HRDD models in upstream supply chains, responsible recruitment of migrant workers, U.S. and EU regulatory changes and ethical supply chains, achievements and challenges from FLA\u2019s Fair Compensation Strategy, and a training on implementing grievance mechanisms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a new addition to this year\u2019s event, FLA staff shared briefings on innovative initiatives that demonstrate FLA\u2019s leadership in protecting workers worldwide. These included: how companies can work best in conflict areas; how our Fair Labor Investigations<\/a> team resolves conflict before a full investigation is needed; how FLA\u2019s WISE app<\/a> helps inform workers of their rights and raise concerns; and progress on FLA\u2019s Retailer Working Group, which is exploring options to bring retailers to FLA\u2019s multistakeholder model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leaders also hosted breakout sessions for attendees to discuss and share their experience on topics including how to make the most of social audits, how to strengthen workers\u2019 rights through improved standards, and how to measure FLA\u2019s impact on improving working conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FLA\u2019s next board meeting will be held in Washington, DC from March 10-12, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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