All News & Press Releases

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Berlin. Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) and Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) reject the compromise negotiated in Brussels on the EU supply chain law. This is the result of a statement by the two ministries, from which the dpa quotes today and which is available to the Supply Chain Act Initiative. The alliance of more than 140 civil society organisations is calling on Chancellor Olaf Scholz to use his policy competence and agree to the EU Supply Chain Act.

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Progressive online course module for sustainability professionals

This FEMNET course is more than just a training: It is a stimulating journey into the world of accountability and sustainability in the consumer goods industry.

Throughout the course, the focus is on interaction between participants, group discussions and the exchange of practical experiences. Participants exchange knowledge and work together on case studies to gradually develop their knowledge and skills in the field of sustainability and due diligence in compliance with the German Supply Chain Act.

Program flyer (PDF)

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Berlin. In today's Bureau decision, the FDP announced its intention to stop the EU Supply Chain Act. The FDP is thus positioning itself against the compromise reached by the EU Council and the European Parliament in December 2023. Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann (FDP) had significantly shaped the negotiating position of the Federal Government and supported it until the end. Johannes Heeg, spokesperson of the civil society alliance “Initiative Supply Chain Law”, commented.

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left: Zehra Khan (photo: Patricia Carney) ⁇ right: Nasir Mansoor (photo: Sina Marx)

The German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG), which entered into force on 1 January 2023, requires companies to ensure compliance with labour rights in their value chains. One year after the entry into force of the law, members of the Pakistani trade unions NTUF and HBWWF will come to Germany to discuss which human rights are still not being implemented in the value chains of German companies.

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© Initiative Supply Chain Act

Assessment of the Supply Chain Act initiative on the agreement on the EU Supply Chain Act of 15. December 2023

It is a milestone in protecting people and the environment in global supply chains: In a 16-hour marathon meeting yesterday, the EU Commission, Council and Parliament agreed on the EU Supply Chain Act. But what exactly will change with it? We took a closer look at the compromise.

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© FEMNET

Regular trips by FEMNET employees to our partners in the Southeast Asian production countries ensure that our projects have a local impact. The direct exchange with representatives of trade unions and organisations on the ground gives us important insights and assessments into the developments of the sector, and project projects can be launched according to jointly planned goals. The visit of foreign coordinator Daniela Wawrzyniak and Aika-Maresa Fischbeck, consultant for foreign projects and campaign work, to Dhaka at the end of October 2023 became a reality check: The trip took both of them right into the middle of the current wage negotiations in the textile industry.

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© BCWS

On the 10th. In December 1948, the United Nations proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but even after 75 years, human rights are still being violated worldwide. Particularly in Bangladesh's garment sector, enforcing the right to a safe workplace remains a challenge. For this reason, FEMNET supports a groundbreaking pilot the Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), which aims to improve the working conditions of workers by introducing occupational accident insurance.

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© Eva Beyer

Joint press release by FEMNET , ECCHR and Rosa Luxemburg Foundation.

Berlin, Bonn, Karachi. New research by Pakistani trade unions National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) and HomeBased Women Worker’s Federation (HBWWF) and the German human rights organisations FEMNET and ECCHR show that even the minimum wage is often not paid in the supply chains of German companies: The report: "No contracts, no rights: How the fashion industry is cheating its workers on minimum wages Exposes alarming labour rights violations in textile factories in Pakistan that have been ongoing for years and calls for immediate action by fashion brands. The German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG), which entered into force on 1 January 2023, requires companies to ensure compliance with labour rights in their value chains. For this reason, the authors of the study informed those companies named by the workers surveyed, which are covered by the new law, about the labour rights violations committed by their producers in Pakistan. While many of the brands have not yet taken effective action, the law has been instrumental in ensuring that some companies now take responsibility for their due diligence obligations.

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© Scukrov - iStockphotos.com

Joint press release from FEMNET and Global Nature Fund (GNF)

Bonn. The German health sector contributes significantly to the environmental impact and is responsible for a considerable 5 percent of national greenhouse gas emissions. A critical analysis shows that about 60 percent of these emissions are caused by the prescription of drugs and another 23 percent by the purchasing sector. This also includes work clothes and bed linen. The Fair Wear Works project by FEMNET and the Global Nature Fund (GNF) starts right here and offers demand-oriented workshops for healthcare institutions.

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© NGWF

Joint press release by FEMNET, SÜDWIND Institute, INKOTA network and HEJSupport

The recently set minimum wage in Bangladesh for garment workers at 12,500 taka per month (106 euros) continues to lead to protests and riots. Workers are deliberately injured, abducted, wrongfully charged, imprisoned, imprisoned or even killed. However, there has been no concrete support for the trade unions' demands for a higher minimum wage from purchasing companies so far. Until 26.11.2023 is now the last opportunity to take an effective position.

 

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© Anastasia Shuraeva - Pexels.com

Joint press release from Global Nature Fund and FEMNET

Fair Wear Works and Sporthandel Fair call on sports clubs to turn Black Friday into Fair Friday and to discount only sustainably produced fan articles. FC St. Pauli leads by example and participates in Fair Friday. The ‘Fair Wear Works’ project supports sports clubs and regional sports associations in making their textile purchases sustainable.

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