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If a brand or retailer has asked your factory to complete SLCP, you are being invited to take part in the Social & Labor Convergence Program. This guide explains what SLCP data collection involves, what the assessment covers, how the process works, and how to complete it successfully — without treating it like a traditional pass/fail audit.
What Is SLCP?
SLCP (Social & Labor Convergence Program) is an independent, multi-stakeholder program that developed the Converged Assessment Framework (CAF) — a single, shared social and labor assessment used across the apparel, footwear, and consumer-goods supply chain. Its goal is to replace the many overlapping social audits with one credible data set that facilities can share with multiple customers.
It is important to understand what SLCP is not. SLCP is not a certification. It does not issue a pass/fail result or a certificate. Instead, it produces a verified assessment — a structured set of social and labor data that the facility owns and can share with brands and other stakeholders through the SLCP Gateway.
What Does the SLCP Data Collection Tool Cover?
SLCP data collection is done through the CAF Data Collection Tool (the questionnaire). The current version, CAF v1.7, organizes the questions into seven content sections:
| Section | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Factory Profile | Basic facility information, production, and workforce profile |
| Recruitment / Hiring & Termination | Recruitment practices, forced labor, agency workers, dismissal |
| Working Hours | Regular and overtime hours, shift patterns, leave |
| Wages & Benefits | Wages, overtime pay, legal minimum, benefits, deductions |
| Worker Treatment & Involvement | Discipline, harassment, grievance, worker voice and communication |
| Health & Safety | Workplace safety, emergencies, machinery, chemicals, hygiene |
| Management Systems | Policies, training, communication, continuous improvement |
A facility answers these questions through a self-assessment (done alone) or a joint-assessment (with external help). The Data Collection Tool can be completed online on an Accredited Host platform, or offline via an Excel file that is later uploaded.
The Three Steps of the CAF
The Data Collection Tool is organized into three sequential steps. A facility first completes Step 1, which contains the foundational set of questions every facility must answer. Step 2 and Step 3 add progressively more detailed questions on management systems, worker engagement, and continuous improvement. Which steps a facility completes depends on the requirements of the brand or customer requesting the assessment.
For Full Virtual Verification, the Worker Engagement (WE) Question Set is mandatory. This is a 20-question subset of the Tool, distributed as a survey to a sample of workers and facilitated by an SLCP-approved Worker Engagement Technology Service Provider.
How SLCP Data Collection Works: The Process
The SLCP assessment follows a clear, repeatable workflow:
- Register on the Gateway — The facility creates an account on the SLCP Gateway (the central repository, hosted on a UN server) and receives a unique Facility ID.
- Set up an Accredited Host account — Using the Facility ID, the facility opens an account on an Accredited Host platform (for example, Worldly) where the Data Collection Tool lives.
- Complete the self/joint-assessment — The facility answers the CAF questions, uploads supporting documents, and submits the assessment. On average this takes about two weeks because multiple people may need to contribute data.
- Select a Verifier Body (VB) — The facility chooses an SLCP-approved VB and discusses verification cost and timeline with them.
- Verification — The VB assigns a Verifier, who reviews the self-assessment, conducts virtual and/or on-site activities (opening meeting, document review, worker and management interviews, walkthrough, closing meeting), and writes the verified assessment report.
- Review and share — Once the report reaches VRF (Verification Finalized) status, the facility reviews it and shares the verified assessment with customers via the Gateway or an Accredited Host, with its permission.
How Long Does SLCP Data Collection Take?
Two timelines matter:
- Self/joint-assessment: About two weeks on average for the facility to complete.
- Verification scheduling: The self-assessment must be delivered to the Verifier at least 10 working days before the scheduled virtual or on-site visit. Some VBs need up to four weeks' advance notice because Verifier schedules are booked in advance, and verification can be semi-announced within a 10-day window.
Verification effort is measured in person-days, calculated in minimum 0.5 person-day increments. The exact number depends on facility size, workforce, and the steps completed.
How Much Does SLCP Cost?
There is no published standard SLCP verification fee. The facility discusses verification cost and timeline directly with the chosen Verifier Body — these are negotiated, and early estimates are refined once the self-assessment detail is known. The Accredited Host platform may also charge its own access or hosting fee. Budget for verification as a separate, negotiated cost, and confirm all fees with the VB before scheduling.
SLCP vs a Traditional Social Audit
SLCP is deliberately different from a conventional audit. A traditional audit results in a certificate or a pass/fail grade. SLCP produces a verified data set that belongs to the facility and can be shared with many customers, reducing duplicate audits. There is no pass/fail mark. The Verification Oversight Organization (VOO) manages the quality and integrity of verifications, but the output remains a shareable assessment — not a certificate.
How to Prepare for SLCP Data Collection
Completing SLCP successfully is mostly about preparation. The following steps help facilities avoid delays and rework:
- Assign an internal owner — One coordinator should manage the Gateway account, document collection, and VB communication.
- Collect evidence early — Gather payroll records, time and attendance, contracts, permits, and health & safety documents before starting the Tool.
- Complete Step 1 first — Get the foundational questions right; they feed the later steps and the verification.
- Confirm customer requirements — Check which steps (1/2/3) and whether verification is required by the brand requesting the data.
- Book verification early — Contact VBs as soon as the self-assessment is close to done, since schedules fill 4+ weeks ahead.
FAQ: SLCP Data Collection Frequently Asked Questions
The following are common questions about SLCP data collection.
Q: Is SLCP a certification?
A: No. SLCP is a data convergence program. It produces a verified social and labor assessment that the facility can share with customers. It does not issue a certificate or a pass/fail grade.
Q: What is the difference between self-assessment and verified assessment?
A: A self-assessment is the facility's own answers in the Data Collection Tool. A verified assessment is the same data after an SLCP-approved Verifier has reviewed and confirmed it during verification. Only a verified assessment in VRF status can be shared with customers.
Q: How long is an SLCP assessment valid?
A: SLCP assessments are typically refreshed on a roughly annual cycle, driven by customer reporting needs. Facilities should confirm the validity period expected by the brands they supply.
Q: Do I need to complete all three steps of the CAF?
A: Not necessarily. Step 1 is the foundational set every facility completes. Step 2 and Step 3 add more detailed questions, and whether you complete them depends on what the requesting brand or customer requires.
Q: How much does SLCP verification cost?
A: There is no standard published fee. Verification cost and timeline are negotiated directly with the Verifier Body you select. The Accredited Host platform may also charge a separate access or hosting fee.
Q: What is the SLCP Gateway?
A: The Gateway is the central, secure repository for SLCP verified assessments, hosted on a UN server. It manages facility, VB, and Verifier accounts and IDs, tracks assessment status, and enables sharing of verified assessments with customer permission.
Q: Can SLCP replace other social audits?
A: SLCP is designed to reduce duplicate social audits by giving facilities one shared assessment they can share with many customers. Whether a specific customer accepts SLCP in place of its own audit depends on that customer's policy.
Q: Who conducts SLCP verification?
A: Verification is carried out by SLCP-approved Verifier Bodies and their Verifiers. The Verification Oversight Organization (VOO) manages the approval, quality assurance, and oversight of verifiers on behalf of SLCP.
Conclusion
SLCP data collection is the foundation of a credible social and labor assessment. By understanding the CAF structure, preparing documents early, completing Step 1 thoroughly, and booking verification well in advance, factories can complete SLCP efficiently and share one verified data set with many customers — reducing audit fatigue without the pressure of a pass/fail certificate.
Need support completing or verifying your SLCP assessment? Our team helps factories through the full data-collection and verification process. Get expert help →
References
- SLCP. Converged Assessment Framework (CAF) Verification Protocol v1.7 / v1.7.1 — CAF elements, seven data-collection sections, assessment process, Gateway, VOO, person-day rules.
- SLCP. Verification Protocol — process steps (Gateway registration, Accredited Host, self/joint-assessment ~2 weeks, VB selection, ≥10 working days prior delivery, semi-announced 10-day window, VRF sharing).
- SLCP. CAF Data Collection Tool — seven sections: Factory Profile; Recruitment/Hiring & Termination; Working Hours; Wages & Benefits; Worker Treatment & Involvement; Health & Safety; Management Systems. Step 1/2/3 structure; WE Question Set (20 questions, mandatory for Full Virtual Verification).
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