Higg FSLM Assessment and Verification (vFSLM)
Prepare social and labor data using the SLCP CAF and improve the accuracy and reliability of facility responses through independent verification.
- Service type
- Verification
- Related standard
- SLCP CAF / FSLM VERIFICATION
- Process
- 11 steps
GET STARTED
What is Higg FSLM?
Higg Facility Social & Labor Module (Higg FSLM) collects and analyzes facility data on wages, working hours, recruitment, worker treatment, worker involvement, occupational health and safety, termination and social and labor management systems.
Higg FSLM is based on the Converged Assessment Framework (CAF) developed by SLCP. SLCP maintains the common Data Collection Tool and the Verification Protocol that defines the verification process.
Cascale develops and maintains Higg FSLM based on the CAF and applies its scoring methodology. Facilities complete and verify FSLM on Worldly. Verification reports go through quality checks and finalization using SLCP Gateway and Accredited Host processes. Facilities decide who can receive their final data and how to share it.
SLCP-approved verifying bodies and verifiers check whether facility self-assessment responses are accurate and complete. Issues against national labor law or international labor standards may be recorded. FSLM verification itself is not certification, a pass/fail judgment or confirmation that a brand code of conduct has been met.
The SLCP CAF itself does not provide scores or certification. Worldly's Higg FSLM applies Cascale's scoring methodology. Section Score, Step Score, Risk Score and Legal Compliance indicators should be considered together. A single number should not be used to decide whether an entire facility passes, fails or qualifies for business.
FSLM operates on a rolling cycle rather than FEM's annual common schedule. Facilities generally complete FSLM every 12 months. Confirm any completion dates or verification conditions set by a customer brand.
ESSENTIAL GUIDES
Understand the Higg FSLM Assessment and service
VERIFICATION & SUPPORT
Continue with practical guidance
PRACTICAL GUIDANCE
Programs and terms
- SLCP: the program that develops and maintains the CAF and Verification Protocol
- CAF: the common framework for collecting facility social and labor data
- Cascale: the organization maintaining Higg FSLM and its scoring methodology based on the CAF
- Worldly: the platform used to complete and verify FSLM
- SLCP Gateway: the system supporting report quality checks, finalization and facility-controlled sharing
- vFSLM: FSLM with completed and finalized verification
PRACTICAL GUIDANCE
Completion evidence and certification
RST INTERPRETATION
Uses and limits of results
EVIDENCE & SOURCES
Official sources and applicable guidance
ELIGIBILITY
Eligibility and preparation
- 01Manufacturing facilities that want to manage wages, working hours, recruitment, worker treatment, health and safety and other social and labor data systematically
- 02Facilities asked by customers or brands to provide FSLM self-assessment or verified results
- 03Facilities seeking to reduce duplicated social audits by sharing verified data with multiple business partners
- 04Facilities seeking reliable data for human-rights and labor due diligence and improvement planning
- 05Facilities that want to track changes in social and labor performance on a 12-month cycle
- 06Facilities able to identify the CAF Step and verification conditions requested by customers and prepare the required evidence
- 07Applicability depends on the country and language, SLCP's current coverage, participation and availability of approved bodies and verifiers, and individual customer conditions.
BENEFITS
Potential benefits
- 01Standardize social and labor data using a common question framework
- 02Improve the accuracy and completeness of facility responses through third-party verification
- 03Identify improvement needs in wages, working hours, health and safety and management systems
- 04Obtain verified data for human-rights and labor due diligence and supply chain risk management
- 05Reduce duplicated social audits where business partners accept SLCP data
- 06Keep facility ownership of data and select recipients and sharing methods
PROCESS
Assessment and verification process
- 01
[Facility] Confirm business-partner requirements
Check whether the customer needs only a self-assessment or verified FSLM (vFSLM). Confirm the requested Step, deadline, method and recipients. Business partners may set conditions beyond the common program requirements.
- 02
[Facility] Prepare the Worldly facility account
Create or check the Worldly account using the facility's information. Check customer invitations and account connections.
- 03
[Facility] Link a Gateway facility profile when verifying
An SLCP Gateway facility profile is not needed if a facility only completes a self/joint assessment without verification; those data remain on Worldly and are not sent to Gateway. For vFSLM verification, create a Gateway facility profile and link its SLCP Facility ID to the Worldly facility account and the relevant FSLM assessment.
- 04
[Facility] Check the available version and start FSLM
Check the current available FSLM version before starting. Because FSLM operates on a rolling cycle, plan around the customer's deadline and the previous assessment's completion date. FSLM assessments newly started from 9 March 2026 automatically use CAF 1.7.1. Previously purchased assessments still in NS (Not Started) also update to 1.7.1. The applicable version therefore depends on whether the assessment has started, rather than the purchase date; confirm it in the platform.
- 05
[Facility] Select the CAF Step
Choose a Step based on customer requirements and the facility’s assessment purpose. Step 1 Essential covers core social and labor questions relating to national labor law and international labor standards. Step 2 Progressive adds management systems and further social and labor questions. Step 3 Advanced adds leading practices, worker wellbeing and community topics to Steps 1 and 2. Facility information and earlier answers determine follow-up questions, so question counts vary. A Step is the scope of questions, not a performance grade.
- 06
[Facility] Complete and submit a self/joint assessment
Answer the selected Step’s questions in English and prepare evidence. Submit and post the self/joint assessment to reach ASC (Assessment Completed). Sharing requests may be arranged in advance on Worldly, but recipients see data only once the assessment is posted. Unverified assessment data are shared on Worldly only and are not sent to Gateway.
- 07
[Facility / RST] Discuss scope, timing and fees
Provide RST with the location, workforce size, Step, language, preferred schedule and customer requirements. Posted self/joint-assessment data are valid for verification for 60 days from submission, so arrange verification within that period. After expiry, the facility may need to reopen the assessment, check and update its data and resubmit. Follow Worldly’s expiry guidance by informing support of the updated data and submission date and confirming that verification is enabled again.
- 08
[Facility] Select the body and provide evidence
Confirm the contract and verification conditions, check the contracted body’s official registered name and select it as Verifier Body on Worldly. Provide the completed assessment and supporting documentation at least 10 working days before the scheduled verification date or window.
- 09
[Facility / RST] Conduct verification
Verification generally takes place onsite and includes document review, management and worker interviews and facility checks. Remote or hybrid verification may apply under conditions allowed by SLCP; check the country and current procedure. Once verification has begun, the facility cannot freely change its self-assessment responses.
- 10
[Verifying body / SLCP] Submit results and complete quality checks
After the body accepts the request and assigns verifiers, the assessment moves to VRP (Verification in Progress) when verification begins. The verifier generally has 10 working days after onsite verification to submit findings on the Accredited Host. Gateway performs VRQ (Verification Quality Check). Edits may require VRE (Verification Being Edited). Once quality checks finish and the report reaches VRC (Verification Completed), the facility can review it.
- 11
[Facility] Review, finalize and share results
Review the report within 30 calendar days from the verifier’s upload to VRC. Accepting it moves the report to VRF (Verification Finalized). Request edits through VRE for factual or technical errors, or use the dispute process for procedural or quality concerns. After 30 days, edit requests and disputes are unavailable. Reports are not automatically finalized; the facility must act. Once finalized, share the report through Gateway or an Accredited Host with selected recipients. Sharing is not automatic. Consider Section Score, Step Score, Risk Score and Legal Compliance indicators together, rather than treating one number as a pass/fail decision.
RST EXPERTISE
What to confirm with RST
When contacting RST, provide the facility location, workforce size, customer-required CAF Step, verification language and submission deadline. Before contracting, confirm the verifying body’s current approval, applicable countries and languages, verifier availability and actual service scope. Verification does not guarantee supplier approval by a particular brand or a commercial outcome.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is FSLM verification mandatory?
Is FSLM certification or a pass/fail assessment, and how should scores be read?
How long do FSLM assessment and verification take?
CONTACT & RESOURCES