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Social Compliance Training


We recognize that it is important to routinely train buying agents, vendors, and factory management, and we strongly encourage all new factories in our factory monitoring program to participate in such training. Typically, we hold an average of 10-12 training sessions a year, focusing on various locations around the world that are regionally close to factories included in our factory monitoring program. In fiscal 2022, training sessions were held remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

These training sessions are conducted by UL representatives in partnership with our Assistant Vice President (AVP), Global Social Compliance. We believe the presence of our management at these sessions demonstrates to factory management, buying agent management, and vendors that TJX is committed to our Global Social Compliance Program. Over time, our training sessions have been held in various locations (see map for examples) and have included the following topics:

Map of TJX locations of internal and external social compliance training

  • TJX’s Vendor Code of Conduct and the expectations contained in this Code
  • Local labor laws
  • Anti-bribery laws (including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the U.K. Bribery Act)
  • Regulations on chemicals and hazardous materials, Material Data Safety Sheets, hazardous waste management, and required environmental permits
  • Business ethics
  • TJX’s policy against forced and involuntary labor, including slavery and human trafficking
  • Fire safety
  • Water conservation recommendations
  • TJX’s fur practices
  • Factory compliance best practices and preventative actions
  • Case studies to help demonstrate how to embed management remediation systems
  • Open discussions with vendors and factory management on compliance challenges

In addition to the above, we often include targeted training based on geographic or other regional differences to ensure that we are covering the most pertinent topics for each training session, and we may break into focus groups to enhance training through shared learning.

Designated representatives at various buying offices around the globe also provide instruction to vendors and factory management on our ethical sourcing expectations. We plan to continue to devote resources to these important training initiatives and to review and update these initiatives as appropriate.


Associate Training


TJX Associates involved in the development and buying of merchandise are expected to undergo formal social compliance training biennially. In addition, through informal meetings and discussions, our AVP, Global Social Compliance continues to share our learnings, updating our product development and buying Associates on the requirements of TJX’s Global Social Compliance Program.

In fiscal 2022, we began expanding our training efforts through new partnerships with external stakeholders. Through our sponsorship of the Responsible Sourcing Network’s Yarn Ethically and Sustainably Sourced (YESS) initiative, we were able to offer Associates that support our Global Social Compliance Program access to information sessions about YESS’ work assisting mills and spinners in identifying forced labor in their supply chains. Additionally, through our participation in the Responsible Business Alliance’s Responsible Labor Initiative, Associates that support our Global Social Compliance Program will have access to forced labor training modules.