The Ethical Charter Implementation Program has launched a new digital platform specifically designed for farm labor contractors, or FLCs. The Learn, Assess and Benchmark, or LAB, platform offers contractors a confidential way to evaluate their labor management systems and align with industrywide social responsibility standards.
Facilitated by the Equitable Food Initiative and backed by major retailers, the FLC LAB will officially launch April 1. The rollout includes a live informational webinar at 1 p.m. EDT to guide contractors through the new tools.
The webinar will provide an overview of the platform for contractors, growers and suppliers and how FLC LAB fits into the broader ECIP framework. Registration is currently open at ethicalcharterprogram.org. A Q&A session will be a portion of the webinar.
“This webinar is designed to walk farm labor contractors through the platform and show how easy it is to get started,” says Madelyn Edlin, product marketing manager for EFI. “We want to showcase how FLC LAB can support operations and strengthen their systems.”
Because FLCs manage a significant portion of the agricultural workforce, integration into the ECIP framework is considered a critical step for the produce supply chain. The platform allows contractors to:
- Assess current systems across 56 key labor-related work areas.
- Benchmark progress over time to demonstrate credible engagement to buyers.
- Access management systems that support responsible labor practices.
The program is built on a continuous improvement model, ensuring that data remains confidential to support honest self-assessment and organizational growth.
“FLC LAB was created to give farm labor contractors a practical and supportive way to strengthen their operations,” Edlin says. “By focusing on learning and self-assessment rather than a ‘pass/fail’ test, the platform helps contractors understand their current standing and provides a roadmap for continuous improvement.”
