All News & Press Releases

© City of Bonn Barbara Frommann

More and more municipalities are making their way to get fairer. However, the concrete implementation is not always so simple. FEMNET has advised smaller municipalities on fair purchasing practices. Now let's take the “lessons learnt“ in one manual together: Our examples show that there are ways to achieve something - even if the staffing level is thin, the political backing is (still) lacking or there are legal uncertainties.

Read more …

© FEMNET

The district of Fürth dares to: Since 2016, its member municipalities have been working together to make public purchases more socially equitable step by step. They reinforce each other, they coordinate strategies and they share procurement data. In the district of Fürth, many positive aspects intertwine: Active and dedicated Fairtrade Town steering groups that don't let up. The insight that fair procurement can be easier than thought. And the necessary political backing to make fair procurement also possible ‘from above’.

Read more …

Press release of the Supply Chain Act initiative, an alliance of which FEMNET is a member

Berlin. Time and again, German companies are involved in human rights violations and environmental destruction along their supply chains. In order to prevent this, Federal Development Minister Müller and Federal Labour Minister Heil had already promised in December to publish key points for a supply chain law. According to the editorial network Germany (RND), the Federal Chancellery has prevented the publication of the key points planned for today. The Supply Chain Act initiative calls on the federal government to fulfil its obligations under the coalition agreement and finally to advance the legislative process for a supply chain law.

Read more …

Workers' organisation protests against sexual harassment and violence in the workplace on 7 February 2020 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. © Taslima Akter

Bonn, Germany and Dhaka, Bangladesh, 8 March 2020. From economic exploitation to domestic violence, from sexual harassment by supervisors and prerogatives to rape in the workplace, violence and harassment are brutal everyday life for many women in Bangladesh. States and companies are not using their options to protect women from assault. FEMNET and its partner organisations call for the immediate ratification and effective implementation of international conventions for the protection of women in global supply chains.

Read more …

© FEMNET

FEMNET publishes studies on working conditions in India and Tunisia

Extremely low wages, fixed-term contracts and the suppression of trade unions: Occupational clothing is intended to protect employees, but in manufacturing the working conditions are as precarious as in the fashion industry. Research commissioned by FEMNET in Indian and Tunisian factories shows: European brands accept that national labour laws and international core labour standards are trampled on in their suppliers.

Read more …

© FEMNET

In January 2020, Gisela Burckhardt, Chief Executive Officer, and Sina Marx, Foreign Projects Officer, travelled to India and Bangladesh. We are regularly at our Local partner organisations, to plan together for the future and to convince us that your donations will arrive where they are needed. Here we want to share some personal impressions with you.

Read more …

Joint PRESS RELEASE by Initiative Supply Chain Act, CorA Network, ECCHR, BUND

Berlin. A supply chain law in Germany is feasible – for companies as well as for legislators. This is shown by a legal opinion of the Initiative Supply Chain Act, prepared by legal experts of the alliance with the support of lawyer Robert Grabosch. Such a law is intended to oblige companies in Germany to better protect people and the environment in their global business.

Read more …

© CIR - Christian Initiative Romero

Organizations hand over more than 2,000 signed protest postcards and open letter.

For their outstanding achievements in the field of Deportation of human rights responsibility Several organizations presented the award to the federal government last week. ‘The Golden Exploiter’. The satirical action was Alliance for Fair Trade, the CorA network, the Supply Chain Act initiative, the CCC and WEED carried out.

Read more …

© Devi Adamo 2019

FEMNET has published the most important results of a new study in German

Textile companies have made great progress in recent years in disclosing information about their supply chains. This is shown in a report published in December 2019 by an alliance of trade unions, human rights groups and labour rights initiatives, including the Clean Clothes Campaign.
The short version has been translated into German by FEMNET. The report is an update of the 2017 company survey.

Read more …

More Articles …