Pressemeldungen - Unternehmensverantwortung & Lieferkettengesetz © Initiative Supply Chain Act 16 September 2020 Supply Chain Act: Duty of care must apply to all companies Bonn/Berlin. Apparently, there will again be no agreement in the cabinet today on the supply chain law promised in the coalition agreement. Non-governmental organizations in the Textile Alliance warn against dilution. A supply chain law must not be limited to large companies. A supply chain law must legally oblige all companies to respect human rights and environmental standards in their supply chain and enable victims to be compensated in German courts. In recent months, more than 222,222 signatures have been collected nationwide calling for a supply chain law. 65 companies, including 12 companies from the textile alliance, including Tchibo, VAUDE, KiK and Primark, are in favour of such a law. It creates legal certainty and a level playing field for all. Above all, Minister of Economic Affairs Peter Altmaier is the mouthpiece of the business associations and blocks the draft of a supply chain law. Parts of the economy and the Ministry of Economic Affairs want the Liability of companies avoid negligent violations of human rights and environmental standards in their supply chain. Without a liability of companies for labour rights violations in their supply chain, the law would be a toothless tiger. A law must also apply to all businesses, including small and medium-sized ones. Especially in the textile sector, there are a large number of companies of this size. Compliance with human rights must also be ensured. The member companies of the Textile Alliance voluntarily set out to avoid the violation of human rights and environmental standards in their supply chains. However, they account for just under half of the German market, the other part does not comply with voluntary due diligence. The COVID-19 crisis in particular has shown that a legal regulation of due diligence is urgently needed. Fashion companies have recklessly cancelled orders, cut prices and plunged hundreds of thousands of workers without wages and reserves into distress. A wage for life and social security are not guaranteed by the usual purchasing practices. The risks exacerbated by the crisis would be systematically addressed by a supply chain law. Therefore, a legal regulation of human rights and environmental due diligence is urgently needed. Voluntary initiatives such as the Textile Alliance can be more effective if they are built on a legal basis for due diligence and to protect the environment and people. Contact persons: Dr. Gisela Burckhardt, FEMNET, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel.: 0152 01774080Dr. Sabine Ferenschild, SOUTH WIND Institute, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel: 01578 9606450 Berndt Hinzmann, INKOTA network, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel.: 0160 94 69 87 70 This press release was written by the civil society organisations in the steering committee and does not necessarily represent the opinion of all civil society members. The Textile Alliance has 19 civil society member organisations, which are represented in the steering committee by FEMNET, INKOTA-netzwerk and the SÜDWIND Institute.
