Pressemeldungen - Unternehmensverantwortung & Lieferkettengesetz 10 March 2020 Merkel and Altmaier stop push for supply chain law - human rights and environmental protection can no longer wait 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. “A blockade of the Supply Chain Act by the Chancellery would be totally unacceptable. Economic interests must never be more important than human rights and environmental protection.” says Johanna Kusch, spokeswoman for the Supply Chain Act initiative. “We have already shown with our legal opinion: A supply chain law is not only urgently necessary, but also feasible – both for the legislator and for German companies.” Minister Altmaier insists on waiting for the second round of the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAP). In the first round of the survey, companies performed poorly. “The interim report on NAP monitoring, published a few days ago, showed that: Less than one-fifth of the companies that have participated comply with their human rights due diligence obligations. This is a devastating result and shows: Voluntary action is not enough to protect human rights. This will not be changed by another survey.” says Christian Schliemann from ECCHR. According to RND, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said that legal proposals are currently premature and only another survey can show whether a law is necessary at all. In the current coalition agreement, the governing parties had committed themselves to verify the implementation of human rights due diligence obligations by German companies – and to demand compliance by law in the event of non-compliance. Such a supply chain law is intended to ensure that companies along their entire value chain ensure that people and the environment are protected – and that those affected can sue their rights in Germany if these obligations are breached. “What is prohibited in Germany – for example exploitative child labour – may no longer be tolerated by foreign suppliers of German companies. A supply chain law is overdue. Ministers Heil and Müller urge that this matter be brought forward. It is incomprehensible and regrettable that this is why they are getting so much headwind.” Cornelia Füllkrug-Weitzel, president of Brot für die Welt. The Supply Chain Act initiative unites 91 civil society organisations, including human rights, development and environmental organisations, as well as trade unions and church actors. In September 2019, they formed an alliance. Bread for the World and ECCHR are among the initiative's 18 supporting organisations. Further information: The report of the editorial network Germany Contact: Johannes Heeg, Spokesperson for the Supply Chain Act Initiative: Tel.: 0151-10611346, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Michelle Trimborn, ECCHR Press Office: Tel.: 030-40 10 94 54, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Renate Vacker, Spokeswoman for Bread for the World: Tel. 030 65211 1833, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
