News about Our Work -

This week marks the eighth anniversary of the worst factory accident in the history of the textile industry, the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Dhaka, Bangladesh. On 24 April 2013, 1135 textile workers were killed and over 2438 injured. Many workers still suffer from the consequences of their injuries and were unable to find work due to their disabilities. The compensation paid to victims and survivors is disproportionate to the suffering that people have experienced.

Read more …

© FEMNET

The supply chain law is coming, that's for sure. A positive move, as the law can be passed before the upcoming federal election this year. As a result, companies are obliged to take responsibility for human rights and the environment. Violations should be controlled by a federal agency. If an undertaking breaches its obligations, the authority may impose fines and exclude the undertaking from public contracts. This is, after all, a step forward from the previous voluntary approaches.

Read more …

© Initiative Supply Chain Act

Activists of the Supply Chain Act initiative demonstrated today in Berlin. The meeting for a supply chain law has been postponed again. The demonstrators set up an oversized legal framework and symbolically handed over a petition with more than 222,222 signatures to the Federal Chancellery. Together with the alliance of more than 100 civil society organisations, FEMNET is calling for the law to no longer be postponed.

Read more …

The key points for a supply chain law announced for the end of August are being delayed. The reason for this is the continued blockade of Minister of Economic Affairs Peter Altmaier, who is trying to prevent a legal duty of care for companies. An alliance of 100 organizations is calling for an end to this blockade.

Read more …

Since spring 2020, we have come much closer to a supply chain law. Federal Ministers Heil and Müller have announced that they will present a law. The chancellor and more and more German companies are in favour of this step. However, there is resistance. Minister Altmeier opposes the project in order to protect companies. As part of the Supply Chain Act initiative, we therefore call for joint protest action against this blockade.

Read more …

© FEMNET

Women and girls are particularly affected by the negative effects of global economies. They are paid less than their male counterparts and experience sexualised violence and harassment in the workplace. In August, the Federal Ministers plan to adopt cornerstones for a supply chain law in the Cabinet. Together with an alliance of 12 human rights and development organisations, we are calling for more gender equality in global supply chains.

Read more …

© GBGW

On November 24, 2012, a fire broke out in the Tazreen factory in Bangladesh at 6.30 p.m. Of the more than 1000 workers, 600 were still in the factory. There were no escape exits into the open and the windows were barred. Some workers were able to rip the fans out of the window and jump through the gap from a great height into the depths. 125 workers died in the fire, during the jump from above and later as a result, 150 were injured, some seriously.

Read more …

On November 15, 2019, Amazon published names, addresses, and more details of over 1,000 suppliers on its website. The fact that the world's largest online retailer is taking this important first step clearly shows that the International transparency campaign effect shows. However, the published list is so far difficult to find, not filterable and still too inaccurate to find out which types of products are produced in the listed plants. Included are producers of clothing, electrical appliances and household goods of the Amazon own brand.

Read more …