In Washington on March 24, 2026, the Ethical Charter Implementation Program announced a new digital platform designed specifically for farm labor contractors. The program, guided by a multistakeholder industry group and supported by the Equitable Food Initiative, aims to strengthen alignment with the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices. Known as the Learn, Assess and Benchmark platform, or LAB, this new tool is meant to give contractors a practical starting point for improving social responsibility within their operations. The platform will officially launch on April 1, 2026, with a live informational webinar scheduled for 10 a.m. PDT and 1 p.m. EDT.
The LAB platform is built around a continuous improvement model, helping users build knowledge, evaluate their current labor management systems, and measure progress over time. It is designed to be both accessible and practical, offering clear guidance that contractors can apply step by step as they strengthen their practices. Rather than a one-time assessment, the platform encourages ongoing development and accountability.
Through the platform, farm labor contractors can learn about management systems that support responsible labor practices and assess their current operations across 56 different labor-related areas. It also allows them to benchmark their progress over time, making it easier to track improvements and identify gaps. By taking part, contractors can highlight any existing social responsibility certifications they hold while also demonstrating credible, ongoing engagement in improving labor standards.
"FLC LAB was created to give farm labor contractors a practical and supportive way to strengthen their labor management systems," said Madelyn Edlin, product marketing manager for EFI. "By focusing on learning, self-assessment and benchmarking, the platform helps farm labor contractors better understand where they are today and provides tools to improve over time."
FLC LAB is a capacity-building tool, not a compliance test. Farm labor contractors can answer assessments honestly, knowing their responses are confidential and used to support learning and improvement within their own operations.
Farm labor contractors manage a significant portion of the agricultural workforce, and strengthening their labor management systems helps improve alignment with the Ethical Charter across the supply chain.
To introduce the platform, ECIP's live webinar will provide an overview of FLC LAB and guidance on how farm labor contractors can begin using the platform to strengthen their operations, as well as how this new release will relate to existing growers and suppliers.
"This webinar is designed to walk farm labor contractors through the platform and show how easy it is to get started," Edlin said. "We want to showcase how FLC LAB can support operations and strengthen their systems."
Attendees can also ask questions live and explore how FLC LAB fits into the broader ECIP framework. Registration is now open. Farm labor contractors, growers, suppliers and retailers are encouraged to attend.
For more information:
Ethical Charter Implementation Program 
https://ethicalcharterprogram.org/
