This grant will help create resources to empower GOTS auditors to perform their roles more effectively. Credit: seeshooteatrepeat/Shutterstock.

The ISEAL grant is designed to establish an ongoing education framework for GOTS auditors and a training course on GOTS Due Diligence Criteria. 

Global Standard Responsible, Standard Development and Implementation (Social Responsibility) Ruslan Alyamkin said: “The increasing demand for responsible and transparent supply chains requires auditors to have a deep understanding of human rights due diligence and its application in textile certification.  

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“With this project, we aim to equip GOTS auditors with the necessary expertise to assess compliance effectively, reinforcing the credibility of GOTS certification.” 

The shifting landscape of regulatory measures, such as the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDD), coupled with a general ambiguity in the industry regarding the execution of due diligence, may pose challenges to adherence within the textile supply chain.  

This ISEAL funding is intended to support the development of tools that will empower GOTS auditors to perform their duties with increased assurance and efficiency. 

GOTS auditor training programme will concentrate on three key goals 

  • Creating a continuous learning strategy for GOTS auditors, along with a well-organized framework for their ongoing professional growth. 
  • Designing a specialised training curriculum to equip auditors with the skills needed to evaluate compliance with GOTS Due Diligence Criteria. 
  • Running a pilot training session for about 30 auditors, using feedback from certification bodies and real-world audit experiences to enhance and refine the training process. 

The training will draw upon best practices and insights from internationally recognised frameworks like the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for the Garment and Footwear Sector, OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct and the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.  

This approach ensures that GOTS auditors receive advanced training to verify due diligence compliance effectively. 

Global Standard has already established a robust Due Diligence Framework consisting of The GOTS Due Diligence Handbook for Auditors, the GOTS Due Diligence Handbook for Certified Entities, the Manual for GOTS Implementation, and the GOTS. 

“With mandatory human rights due diligence laws becoming more prevalent and setting higher standards for corporate accountability, the role of auditors in verifying compliance is more crucial than ever,” Alyamkin added. 

This project also receives funding from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). 

The implementation of this project will be carried out in cooperation with UpRights, an organisation dedicated to promoting human rights. 

Last month, Global Standard encouraged the public and wider apparel industry to consult on the next version of its GOTS and its Implementation Manual at a time when “the textile industry needs guidance on how to stay compliant with global regulation”.