An Introduction to Higg FSLM
The Facility Social & Labor Module (FSLM) measures the social impact of manufacturing across areas such as wages, working hours, health and safety, and employee treatment. The FSLM assessment is based on the Converged Assessment Framework (CAF) developed by the SLCP to measure social impacts and working conditions in the supply chain.
Higg FSLM CAF1.6 Update
The Social & Labor Convergence Program (SLCP) recently updated the Converged Assessment Framework (CAF) to version 1.6. This update ensures that consumer goods industries can measure material social and labor factors across the supply chain. Please find more information on the new CAF version 1.6 here, or watch the launch webinar on the update on the SLCP website here. CAF 1.6 is live as of Q1, 2024.
If you have started a CAF 1.5 assessment before the launch of CAF 1.6, then you will need to complete and post your FSLM within 6 months of the CAF 1.6 launch date. If you do not complete your FSLM within this time period, your module will be deleted.
If you purchased the FSLM before the launch of CAF 1.6, but you start after the launch date, in this case a CAF 1.6 assessment is assigned to your FSLM module and you can complete it without a deadline.
Value of Higg FSLM
Brands, retailers, and manufacturers of all sizes can use the Higg FSLM to assess social and labor conditions for the workers who produce billions of consumer goods each year. The FSLM is built on the converged framework of the Social & Labor Convergence Program (SLCP). Our partners at Cascale who have developed the Higg Index, have developed scoring methodology for the CAF assessment incorporated in the FSLM. On the Worldly platform, the scored FSLM helps improve social and labor conditions for supply chain workers while reducing audit fatigue for factories around the world.
Impacts Measured
The FSLM measures overall social labor practices in facilities. It tracks management systems, operational controls, oversight, and worker and stakeholder engagement. Facilities can use the Higg assessment to understand performance hotspots and reduce audit fatigue. Instead of focusing on compliance, they can dedicate time and resources to making lasting systemic changes. The FSLM measures:
- Recruitment and Hiring
- Working Hours
- Wages and Benefits
- Worker Treatment
- Worker Involvement
- Health and Safety
- Termination
- Management Systems
- Above and beyond
Scoring
The FSLM scoring system is designed to be universal and drive improved social performance in manufacturing facilities around the world. Points are only assigned to universal questions that drive improved actions, decisions, and practices that lead to better social and labor sustainability outcomes.
Verification
FSLM verification confirms that you understood and answered your self-assessment questions correctly. Verification ensures external stakeholders that your data is reliable. FSLM verification process follows the SLCP assessment process. Please find more information regarding the FSLM verification process in the SLCP help center, here.
Transparency – Consumers are demanding transparency around working conditions for every step of the supply chain. Let your stakeholders know that you use the FSLM to measure the social impacts of your facility to drive performance improvement. The criteria for publicizing FSLM scores are currently being developed.
Additional Features
Benchmarking – With the FSLM benchmarking feature, you can set a performance baseline to compare your facility’s performance year over year, helping you identify performance hotspots and track improvement over time. Robust analytics help you understand your data and can inform your sustainability strategy. You can also compare your sustainability performance to other companies like yours and see how your sustainability performance compares to global and regional averages.