A risk-based approach to audits

Retail market compliance

The merchants who buy from factories are a key component of our responsible sourcing efforts. To help our merchants drive socially responsible behavior in the factories from which they source, we provide them with training on responsible sourcing issues.

Internal sourcing practices

We’re committed to making sure our merchants, sourcing teams and suppliers are working together to make responsible sourcing decisions.

In August 2013, we launched a responsible sourcing training module for all merchandising associates who work directly with our suppliers. The goal of this training is to help our merchandising and sourcing associates take ownership of responsible sourcing practices. They help factories understand the impact their decisions have on the supply chain and how they can mitigate risks through better planning and supplier relationship practices.

We’re also partnering with Walmart’s Talent Development team to develop responsible sourcing training for all Walmart buying teams. The Responsible Sourcing team will receive biannual scorecards that detail results of the training.

Worker helpline

We believe worker voice is key to ensuring safety and well-being across the supply chain. That’s why we require factories producing merchandise for sale at Walmart to display, with our Standards for Suppliers, a toll-free phone number, email address and website where workers can anonymously report concerns in their local language. All reports are collected by a third party and directed to our Global Ethics office for investigation.

Bangladesh

While we’re taking an overall global approach to worker safety and well-being, we also recognize there’s a need for heightened attention in countries such as Bangladesh. In 2013, we implemented and/or strengthened certain factory requirements to address the most serious concerns in the Bangladeshi ready-made garment industry.

As part of these new requirements, we will not permit production of merchandise for sale at Walmart in facilities that have one or more of the following structural fire safety characteristics:

• A residential building that has been converted into an industrial facility
• Facilities in a multistory building with a ground-floor marketplace or commercial shops on any floor
• Facilities in a multistory building shared with other enterprises under separate ownership
• Facilities with a rooftop that is partially obstructed (must be 100 percent clear)
• Facilities where a residence is located within the building

Walmart has also contracted Bureau Veritas (BV), a globally respected leader in assessment services, to conduct fire, electrical and building safety assessments at factories producing goods directly for our suppliers. The factory safety assessment process requires engineers to visit each factory multiple times during the assessment phases. Throughout the assessment, BV engineers identify potential safety issues, and factory management develops remediation plans.

BV engineers also provide fire safety training to management and certain employees, including supervisors, designated fire marshals, fire brigade members and security personnel, who, in turn, train the entire factory population. Information on the assessment process is available on our corporate website.