Mission

The President’s Advisory Committee on Labor Standards and Human Rights is appointed by the President to provide advice concerning University policies and procedures to address labor issues in the production of U of M goods (items sold with the University of Michigan’s name, logos, or other symbols). The Committee includes students, faculty, and staff and reports its recommendations to the central administration.

Charge to the Standing Committee, 2023-24

This committee advises the University concerning policies and practices to ensure that corporations engaged in the manufacture of licensed goods, bearing the University of Michigan name and/or logos, are not engaged in unlawful or unconscionable labor practices. Specifically this year, the committee is instructed to address the following:

• Role of the Advisory Committee on Labor Standards and Human Rights:  Monitor code enforcement and promote University leadership in corporate citizenship with respect to fair labor practices, human rights, and sustainability in its licensing operations;
• Research and education:  Leverage the resources of the University and other sources of expertise to advance understanding of the issues involved in globalization and labor and to inform decision-making by the University; promote education, scholarship, and campus discourse about current issues in fairness and human rights in international labor, in collaboration with appropriate academic units;
• Operational leadership:  Promote U-M’s leadership in pursuing fair labor practices and human rights in licensing operations and provide recommendations regarding the U-M’s continued and/or increased participation with partner organizations on programs related to strengthening code compliance through the licensing process;
• Code of conduct for labor standards:  Make recommendations regarding any potential changes to the University’s code of conduct for licensees, as well as recommendations pursuant to enforcing the code;
• Monitoring efforts and complaint response:  Participate in monitoring compliance organizations with which the University is affiliated; assess concerns about licensees raised by these organizations or through other channels, and recommend appropriate University actions in response as necessary.

The work of the President’s Advisory Committee on Labor Standards and Human Rights will be supported by a staff member from the Office of the President. The committee will have at its disposal such resources as are reasonably required to meet committee goals.