Ethical Trading Initiative Code of Conduct Auditor Training

About this course

This course provides practical training for professionals who want to understand and audit workplace conditions against the Ethical Trading Initiative Code of Conduct. It explains the nine ETI Base Code principles and shows how auditors apply them during audit planning, site tours, worker interviews, document review, evidence evaluation and reporting. Learners will develop the ability to identify labour-rights risks, unsafe working conditions, forced labour indicators, child-labour concerns, wage and working-hours issues, discrimination, harassment and other social-compliance risks. The course also covers auditor ethics, professional judgement, evidence triangulation, nonconformity writing, root-cause analysis, corrective action and worker-centred remediation. Practical examples, audit scenarios and assessments help learners connect each requirement with real workplace situations. By completing the course, learners will be better prepared to conduct credible, independent and evidence-based social-compliance audits.

You will learn to:

• Explain the purpose, structure and role of the Ethical Trading Initiative.
• Interpret the nine ETI Base Code principles correctly.
• Distinguish ETI membership from factory certification.
• Connect ETI Base Code requirements with relevant ILO conventions and international frameworks.
• Explain the difference between social compliance auditing and human rights due diligence.
• Plan and prepare a risk-based social compliance audit.
• Establish appropriate audit objectives, scope, criteria, duration and team responsibilities.
• Conduct effective opening and closing meetings.
• Perform a structured and risk-focused workplace site tour.
• Select representative workers and records for audit sampling.
• Conduct confidential worker, management and worker-representative interviews.
• Review employment, recruitment, payroll, wage and working-hours records.
• Identify forced labour, bonded labour and responsible recruitment risks.
• Recognise child labour and young-worker protection concerns.
• Assess wages, benefits, deductions and working-hours compliance.
• Evaluate freedom of association and collective bargaining practices.
• Identify discrimination, harassment, harsh treatment and abusive disciplinary practices.
• Assess occupational health, workplace safety, fire safety and chemical safety conditions.
• Recognise coached workers, falsified records, double books and concealed subcontracting.
• Triangulate documentary, interview, physical and external evidence.
• Resolve or appropriately report incomplete, inconsistent or conflicting evidence.
• Write clear, factual and evidence-based audit nonconformities.
• Classify, escalate and communicate serious findings appropriately.
• Apply professional judgement, independence, confidentiality and ethical conduct during audits.
• Conduct root-cause analysis using practical methods such as the Five Whys and Fishbone analysis.
• Distinguish between correction, corrective action and worker-centred remediation.
• Develop practical corrective action plans with clear responsibilities and timelines.
• Verify whether corrective actions have been implemented and remain effective.
• Protect worker confidentiality and assess possible retaliation risks.
• Make defensible audit decisions based on sufficient and appropriate evidence.

Skills Acquried

Prerequirsites

• Basic understanding of workplace operations and employment practices
• Ability to read and understand workplace policies, procedures and records
• Basic knowledge of labour rights or social compliance is beneficial
• Familiarity with auditing principles is helpful but not mandatory
• Ability to communicate professionally with workers and management
• Willingness to conduct confidential and objective interviews
• Basic numeracy for reviewing wages, payroll and working-hours records
• Ability to observe workplace conditions and identify potential risks
• Basic computer and internet skills for accessing the online course
• A computer, tablet or smartphone with a reliable internet connection
• Commitment to professional ethics, confidentiality and impartiality
• No previous ETI auditing experience is required

Frequently Asked Questions