o How a factory gets certified Step 1 - The factory sends a completed application form and fee to WRAP. Step 2 - Self- Assessment The Self Assessment Handbook can be found on the website under Handbooks. Step 3 - Monitoring WRAP authorizes factory management to hire an independent monitor from a list of monitoring companies and civil society organizations that regularly perform audits for compliance with policies and procedures required by third parties - in this case, WRAP. WRAP has accredited them to monitor factories in one or more specified countries for compliance with WRAP��s detailed policies and procedures. Step 4 - EvaluationThe WRAP staff takes one of two actions: 1. WRAP Staff may notify the factory that it needs to correct certain procedures and have the monitor make an additional inspection and report. After the factory makes the corrections, it must implement them for at least 45 days before the monitoring firm conducts its follow-up inspection. If the factory does not satisfactorily implement corrective actions within the original six-month grace period (see above), it must renew its application and repay the registration fee in order to be considered for certification. 2. WRAP Staff may recommend to the Certification Board that the factory be certified. Step 5 - Certification Certification The Certification Board (currently the Board of Directors of WRAP) studies the recommendation of the staff, including the monitor's report, and votes to award or withhold certification. (In the latter case, the staff will proceed as in Step 4 (A), above.) During the one-year certification period, all facilities, especially those that needed a second audit, are subject to unannounced inspections * Fees The factory bears all the costs associated with certification. Note that the only fee paid to WRAP is the registration fee (Step 1, above). The only other cost to the factory is the fee that it freely negotiates with an accredited monitor of its choice (Step 3). For the current fee structure, please go to "FAQ". Only MasterCard and VISA credit cards are accepted. * Levels of certification In October 2006, WRAP announced the introduction of a new, three-level factory certification program. The purpose of this program is to award participating factories with the appropriate level of recognition for their progress in achieving full compliance with the WRAP Production Principles over a period of time. The details are as follows: "A" Level Certificate Awarded to a factory that has demonstrated full compliance with all WRAP principles for three consecutive years, and has successfully ��passed�� each audit with no corrective actions. Factories that meet these criteria will be issued a two-year certificate. The factory will be subject to an unannounced audit during its two-year certification. Factories must maintain continuous certification to qualify for the ��A" level certificate. "B" Level Certificate A one-year certificate is awarded to a factory that has demonstrated full compliance with all WRAP principles during the first audit, or in subsequent audits. The one year certification begins from the date of issue of the certificate, not from the date of the audit. (The "B" level certification is equal to WRAP��s current compliance certificate.) "C" Level Certificate
A six-month certificate will be issued to factories that demonstrate substantial compliance with the WRAP principles, but have minor non-compliances in policies, procedures or training that need to be addressed. Factories may not have any "red flag" noncompliances such as child labor, egregious health & safety or environmental issues, prison labor, forced labor or involuntary labor, or harassment or abuse of employees. Factories must demonstrate that employees are paid the legal minimum wage and any required overtime compensation * Qualifying factories must request a six-month certification from the WRAP office, in writing, at the conclusion of their first formal audit. Six-month certificates will not be automatically issued. * Qualifying factories must reapply prior to the expiration of their six-month certificate and pay a reduced registration fee of US$750. * A factory must demonstrate continuous improvement toward achieving full compliance as attainment of a ��B" level certificate. * A factory may be awarded a six-month certificate for no more than three consecutive periods (maximum of 18 months). If the factory fails to achieve full compliance, they must wait for a six-month period and then reapply using their original identification number. * The certificate awarded to the factory will specify which WRAP Principle(s) require(s) corrective action. All other compliance requirements and registration fees for WRAP certification remain the same. |
