FLA hosts its first-ever Fair Labor Global Summit in Washington, DC

From March 10-12, the Fair Labor Association (FLA) hosted its first-ever Fair Labor Global Summit in Washington, D.C. More than 130 FLA members, affiliates, industry experts, and staff gathered for three days of educational panel sessions, workshops, and networking. Attendees exchanged ideas on how to address today’s most pressing labor issues, including responsible purchasing practices, heat stress impacts on workers, stronger union engagement, and more.

“We are bringing companies, universities, and labor and civil society together to innovate, demonstrating in concrete ways that a seat at the table is more valuable than ever,” said FLA President and CEO Jeff Vockrodt. “As resources to promote human rights around the world have shrunk, regulatory ambitions have diminished, and some companies have retreated from their commitments over the past year, FLA and our members have been called on to lead.”

During the event, the FLA board of directors voted to award Fair Labor Accreditation to L2 Brands, following a rigorous, multi-year review of L2 Brands’ business systems for compliance with international labor standards designed to protect workers in its global supply chains.

“Achieving Fair Labor Association accreditation is a meaningful milestone for L2 Brands and a reflection of the discipline and integrity our team brings to this work every day. This recognition affirms our commitment to building a strong, transparent social compliance program that protects workers and strengthens trust with our customers,” said L2 Brands’ CEO, Connor Knutson. 

Educational sessions on today’s most pressing labor issues

Throughout the week FLA leaders and experts from industry organizations convened educational panels to share updates and inspire discussions among attendees. Topics included:

• Responsible purchasing practices (RPP): How business and geopolitical pressures impact RPP, the standards and resources FLA provides (including our work with the Responsible Purchasing Working Group), and how HRDD legislation will require companies to be proactive in purchasing decisions.
• Union and CSO engagement: Why enabling worker voice helps improve working conditions, how CSOs can help address labor issues and complement unions, and how brands can better support freedom of association and collective bargaining.
• Heat stress: How extreme heat affects workers’ safety and fair compensation, why binding agreements improve accountability in countries impacted by rising temperatures, and how brands can reframe heat stress as a workplace hazard.
• Risk in upstream supply chains: Why companies should implement risk-based due diligence throughout all tiers in their supply chains, how companies should invest in traceability, and what the main risks are in upstream supply chains – in particular, child labor and forced labor.

FLA staff also held a special “Lightning Round” session with five quick briefings on innovative projects. DC-based legal expert, Special Counsel Josh Kagan, shared his perspective on future developments related to U.S. tariffs, including the role of forced labor regulations and enforcement. Head of Policy & Strategy at EuroCham Myanmar Thet Zaw Htwe briefed attendees on Myanmar’s recent elections, including what companies sourcing from Myanmar should do to ensure their workers are treated and compensated fairly. FLA staff shared presentations on new commodities in the Harvesting the Future initiative; FLA’s responsible recruitment work in Taiwan’s textile industry and the Employer Pays Principle; and how our Fair Compensation Toolkit supports improved wage data collection and analysis.

FLA’s Board of Directors, members, affiliates, and stakeholders gather for key updates

During the summit, the FLA board of directors convened for its March 2026 Board Meeting. In his opening remarks, FLA’s new Board Chair Chris Lu shared, “This week’s summit – my first major event as chair – marks the largest-ever gathering of FLA members, affiliates, partners, and stakeholders. It’s been an incredible chance to learn from experts across industries and from around the world about which strategies to support workers’ rights are the most effective, and how FLA can continue to be a strong partner in driving progress.”

During the board meeting, FLA welcomed three new board members: Nadeem Parwaz from the Pakistan Textile, Garments, and Leather Workers’ Federation, Alex Katz from Fanatics, and Sandra Cho from Nike. In addition, the board re-elected Erika Austin from Michigan State University, Nancy Donaldson from Global Fairness Initiative, Tomi Gerhold from the University of Notre Dame, and Gopinath Parakuni from Cividep India.

The board also voted to approve the selection of the new FLA Europe Committee, which serves as a convener and resource for addressing labor issues for organizations across Europe. FLA Europe Chair Yves Flückiger said, “FLA exists because decent work is not an option—it is a foundation of dignity and hope for millions of workers and their families. Across Europe and beyond, FLA’s mission is to advance fair labor practices through rigorous due diligence, constructive remediation, and collaborative partnerships that drive systemic change.”

Finally, attendees from FLA member organizations met with their respective Business, University, and the Labor and Civil Society Caucuses and internal committees to discuss the latest updates, industry-specific challenges, and opportunities to expand on labor rights in their supply chains. FLA also held its Collegiate Programs Annual Meeting for universities, collegiate licensee affiliates, and related stakeholders, offering the chance to collaborate in-person on responsible business practices in university merchandising and branded products.

FLA’s next board meeting will take place virtually on July 15, 2026.