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FSLM CAF Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • Updated

The Higg Facility Social & Labor Module (Higg FSLM) measures the social impact of manufacturing facilities across areas such as wages, working hours, health and safety, and employee treatment. The Social & Labor Convergence Program (SLCP) has recently updated the Converged Assessment Framework (CAF) to version 1.6. This new version has been added to the Higg FSLM, available on Worldly. 

Table of Contents

Functionality

Updates

Scores

Resources


How to determine if FSLM is at Step 1, 2, or 3?

FSLM Step 1 covers the process from Facility Profile to Termination. Step 2 extends from Facility Profile to Management Systems, while Step 3 encompasses Facility Profile through Above and Beyond.

 

 

I cannot see the verification module on my account

There are two main reasons why the verification module may not be visible on your FSLM dashboard:

1. Your Facility is Located in Cambodia

• If your facility is located in Cambodia and is currently in scope with the Better Work program, the verification module will not be available.

• If your facility is located in Cambodia but is not part of the Better Work program, you can register an account on the SLCP Gateway. Once registered, please reach out to the Worldly Support Team here to have the vFSLM feature activated on your account.

2. Expired FSLM Self-Assessment

• If your facility’s FSLM self-assessment has expired, this could prevent access to the verification module. Please refer to this guide for detailed instructions on how to reactivate your self-assessment and restore access to the verification module.

 

Can I reopen my FSLM assessment?

To reopen an FSLM assessment, the following criteria must be met:

  • The assessment is in ASC status.
  • The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) version used in the assessment is still supported.

If the criteria are met, please contact our support team via Live Chat or submit a ticket through support.worldly.io to have your assessment reopened.

 

Can I reopen my VRF FSLM to VRE?

SLCP is currently putting a hold on the request to reopen the posted vFSLM to VRE.

You may refer to this SLCP article for detailed information on why requests to reopen vFSLM are not being accepted.

You can also reach out to SLCP directly here: https://slconvergence.org/contact, to inquire whether they can accommodate your vFSLM addendum request.

 

Why is there no option to download the offline Excel file?

The offline Excel Tool cannot be downloaded and used for the following validation methods (question VD-VERI-1):

  • SLCP Full Virtual Verification
  • SLCP Virtual + Onsite Verification

 

Is the “SLCP compatible” Better Work assessments required?

Since CAF v1.5, the self-assessment is optional for Better Work factories: they can have a BW assessment without completing a self-assessment first if they choose (but this will mean they cannot do the Step 2 or Step 3 self-assessment either).

In CAF v1.6 onwards, the final report will more clearly explain the scope of a Better Work assessment and what data points were assessed/not assessed in Step 1 of the Tool. Better Work does not assess Step 2 or 3 scope. When a facility enrolled in the Better Work program has an SLCP-compatible assessment, they can choose to share it with the SLCP Gateway and with the SLCP Accredited Hosts. A factory can choose to do a Step 2 or 3 self-assessment if they want to be able to share this additional data with the SLCP Gateway. 

 

Why is the online FSLM completion rate different from the offline Excel file?

Offline Excel file: The completion rate shown in the Excel file and SLCP Gateway provides an overall assessment completion status. It includes both facility and verifier responses, giving SLCP an overview of how many questions have been answered in the assessment.

Online Assessment: The completion status displayed during the online assessment indicates the progress remaining to submit the assessment. It specifically reflects the data required for the verifier to complete, such as verifier selection and providing comments if any questions are found to be inaccurate. This completion status helps track the remaining tasks needed for the verifier to finalize the assessment (e.g. the verifier selection, comments if the question is inaccurate, etc).

 

How do I add another module if I completed and posted CAF 1.6 already?

As long as the facility has an active subscription, you can start a new FSLM and load a CAF 1.7 assessment.

 

What does the CAF 1.6 and 1.7 update mean for brands?

Worldly has informed facilities about the launch of CAF 1.6 and 1.7, and brands can now start building their Higg FSLM cadences, so their manufacturers understand this year’s requirements.


What does the CAF 1.6 and 1.7 update mean for facilities?

The main changes to the CAF are outlined below. The last bullet point refers to questions only answered by Verifiers/Verifying Bodies. 

CAF 1.6

  • Wage data questions in Step 2
    CAF v1.6 features new questions about gender disaggregated wage information at the lowest wage grade/level and most represented wage grade/level. This helps understand the typical worker wage (most represented wage grade/level) and the most vulnerable worker wage (lowest wage grade/level).

  • Improvement to question wording in Step 1 and 2 based on user feedback
    For multi-select answer blocks where users had to “Select all that apply”, a “blank”/”not selected with X” answer driving a Non-Compliance decision has been misleading or difficult to understand. Questions have now been rephrased so that a Non-Compliance is now explicitly marked with an “X”. SLCP also updated remaining double negative questions that were in the Tool. Users will more clearly understand that the question is asking if they are “failing” to do something.

  • New answer option in Trade Unions questions
    (Worker Involvement section) On questions related to Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining, specifically related to Trade Unions, there is a new answer option for when a facility did not have a trade union presence during the assessment period.

  • New answer options for Worker Engagement question
    (Facility Profile section) Under Basic Information - Worker Engagement: Were workers’ representatives and/or workers involved in the self/joint-assessment process?
    There are new answer options to better understand if SLCP Worker Engagement Technology was used.

  • Process update: 14-day verification review deadline removal
    This year, to ensure facilities review the verification report in full and have enough time to request any edits, the 14-day verification review period has been removed. Your facility will now have to manually accept the verification results via the “Finalize Verified Assessment” action on Worldly to finalize the assessment (VRF status). Facilities will receive email reminders about this new process.

In previous years, verification results were automatically accepted after two weeks or 14 calendar days on Worldly. If the facility did not finalize, dispute, or request edits to the verification results within 14 days, then the verified assessment was automatically accepted into the Verification Finalized (VRF) status and sent to the SLCP Gateway.

  • Improvements to Verification/Assessment Details Section
    (Questions only answered by the Verifier/Verifier Body)
    CAF v1.6 contains a new question on the QA/Report Reviewer Name responsible for the verified assessment report review to facilitate SLCP Verification Oversight activities.
    SLCP added 34 new questions to provide details about the process undertaken by the Verifier during verification. 

Click here to learn more about CAF 1.7 updates.

 

What does the CAF 1.6 and 1.7 update mean for FFC users?

Fair Factories Clearinghouse users will now complete the SLCP CAF assessment on the Worldly platform, starting with CAF 1.6 (the SLCP CAF assessment is called FSLM on the Worldly platform). Once you complete your assessment on Worldly, if you share your assessment to a brand on Worldly that is also a brand on FFC, your CAF assessment will be transferred to the FFC platform so your brand partners may aggregate their facility data and build custom reports. Read more here.

 

What changes are occurring with the CAF 1.6 and 1.7 update on the FFC platform?

From CAF 1.6 onwards, the FFC platform will no longer be an accredited host to the CAF assessment. FFC customers who complete FSLM have been notified and invited to create their Worldly account and will be purchasing the assessment on the Worldly platform. FSLM is also no longer available to purchase through the FFC platform so all users are being routed to Worldly.

 

What is the sunsetting protocol for CAF 1.6?

Users will have 6 months to complete their in-progress FSLM 1.6s to a finalized status of ASC (Self Assessment Completed) or VRF (Verification Finalized).

On Oct 10, 2025, all remaining unfinished FSLM 1.6s will move to ASD (Assessment Deleted).

 

Where do I find the total score of my assessment?

The total self and verified score has been eliminated from the assessment criteria from CAF v1.5 onwards. 

This change has been implemented to better align with the feedback received from our members and to ensure a more streamlined and accurate evaluation process. We believe that this adjustment will enhance the overall effectiveness and fairness of our scoring system.

 

Why does my FSLM score show as zero even though I have provided answers for all the questions?

If you answer “No” to the question regarding “Operating license/registration is available and up to date” (FP-OPE-1), you will receive a score of zero for the entire assessment. Facilities must possess a valid operating license to achieve a score.

 

How much does it cost to transfer data from another Accredited Host to the Worldly platform (data transfer fee)?

The data transfer fee is $199. Please see this guidance on how to make a data transfer. 

Worldly is the only Accredited Host going forward. 


Where can I find information on verification for CAF 1.6 and 1.7?

Please see the SLCP helpdesk here with more information on 1.6 and 1.7 verification. 


Where can I access the FSLM E-Learning course and resources?

Visit learn.worldly.io to take the Higg FSLM E-Learning Course.

The Social & Labor Convergence Program (SLCP), who owns the methodology for this assessment, has listed resources here.

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