Apple recently released its 2023 annual report, "People and the Environment in the Supply Chain."


Facilitate communication between supplier staff and management
Apple offers comprehensive solutions and tools to improve communication between workers and management, including support for smaller or newer suppliers who are still struggling to develop their infrastructure. Apple continues to work with the SCORE Academy, which supports decent work in global supply chains, to engage supplier employees directly in decision making and to create better dialogue and accountability between supplier employees and their managers.
 We will continue this work in 2022. 
Through the SCORE program, management and supplier employee representatives can also collaborate on solutions to a range of issues, including environmental, health and safety (EHS) risks, as well as other issues such as workplace harassment prevention and productivity. All site facilities participating in SCORE have established a Business Improvement Team (EIT) consisting of management and vendor employee representatives. EIT meetings are held regularly to discuss employee grievances and suggestions. To date, more than 2,600 measures have been taken in response to these recommendations. While the COVID-19 pandemic did affect on-site training, more than 40 EIT members at the three facilities completed 392 SCORE Academy courses, 180 of which were taught on-site. For vendors who need additional support, Apple offers expert resources. Appropriate experts share management methods and regularly visit facilities to monitor progress.


About SCORE 
SUSTAINING COMPETITIVE AND RESPONSIBLE ENTERPRISES (SCORE) Program
The SCORE project is a management training and consulting program developed by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to promote workplace improvement for small and medium-sized enterprises (smes) and is currently implemented in 24 countries around the world. SCORE focuses on the close link between workplace practices and productivity, creating long-term win-win solutions that benefit both employers and employees.
Through SCORE training and consulting services, companies can improve management, promote respect for workers' rights, promote decent employment, and improve working conditions while enhancing productivity and competitiveness.


SCORE in China
Since the SCORE project entered China in 2009, it has cooperated with the China Textile Industry Association, China Enterprise Confederation, the Ministry of Emergency Management (formerly the State Administration of Work Safety) and other institutions to promote the SCORE project in Liaoning, Chongqing, Sichuan, Beijing, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Guangdong and other places. At present, thousands of enterprises in China participate in the SCORE program, and 284 consultants and trainers have obtained the SCORE teacher certification. At the same time, the SCORE project helped partners build a service platform for smes and improved management training and consulting services in pilot areas.
In addition, SCORE is supported by international organizations such as BSCI (Business Social Responsibility Initiative) and ICS (Compliance and Sustainability Initiative) in the international supply chain, working with many Fortune 500 companies to promote SCORE projects.


The report is publicly available and copyrighted by Apple
Click here to view the full report