Pressemeldungen - Unternehmensverantwortung & Lieferkettengesetz 31 January 2018 Signature handover of the #GoTransparent campaign by FEMNET in Cologne at Primark Signatures handed over to Primark in Bonn on 03.02.2018.Photo:© FEMNET e.V.70,000 people ask Armani and Primark to reveal where they have their clothes made On Saturday 3 February 2018 at 5 pm, activists of the campaign for clean clothing, including representatives of the Bonn-based women's rights association FEMNET, will hand over a golden gift box with 70,000 signatures to the low-cost manufacturer Primark in its branch in Cologne. They point out that Primark should create transparency about its supply chain and disclose the names of its suppliers. The golden gift boxes with the signatures are the culmination of Human Rights Watch's global #GoTransparent campaign, the Clean Clothes Campaign and the International Labor Rights Forum. The campaign introduced a minimum global standard for transparency in the clothing sector – the ‘Apparel And Footwear Supply Chain Transparency Pledge’ and convinced 17 international brands to publish information about their supplier factories, including addresses and number of workers. In Germany, after all, the appeal was followed by Tchibo, Hugo Boss, Aldi, Lidl and Esprit until the end of 2017, whereby only Esprit published all the requested information, the other usually a list of the names of the suppliers with address without additional information about the type of products, number of workers, etc. KiK has so far completely refused to disclose its supplier list, as has Primark. The information the Transparency Pledge wants to disclose is essential for workers and activists to alert brand companies to labour rights violations in their supply chains. Transparency in supply chains helps to prevent such dramatic conditions as after the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh in 2013, when workers and activists searched the ruins for sew-ins and signs with references to the brand companies. They had to risk their lives to uncover who was responsible for the tragedy. Gisela Burckhardt, CEO of FEMNET, member of the Clean Clothes Campaign, says: “Primark is a global player such as H&M, C&A or Lidl and Aldi. They have already disclosed their supply chain in at least some aspects. What do Primark and KiK have to hide that they do not make their supply chains transparent to the public? Do you know where your clothes come from? In order to prevent labour abuse in the supply chain, a company should have a strong interest in creating transparency.” Contact: Gisela Burckhardt, FEMNET e.V., Campaign for Clean Clothes, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.+49 1520 1774080 Background: The current movement for a transparent supply chain is reflected in new global initiatives, such as the European Parliament's request for a "Flagship Initiative in the Garment Industry“ from April 2017 again. Transparent supply chains and due diligence obligations are required here. Also in April 2017, 97 European civil society organisations sent an appeal to the European Commission for more transparency in the clothing industry. Notes for editors: Signature handovers took place in January 2018 in the following cities, among others: Amsterdam (Primark, Forever 21), Antwerp (Armani, Urban Outfitters), Brussels (Primark), Hanover (Armani, Primark), Hong Kong (Armani), Istanbul (Armani), Mannheim (Primark), Münster (Primark) and Zagreb (Armani). The text of petition #GoTransparent is addressed to Walmart, Urban Outfitters, Forever 21, Armani and Primark and is available at change.org/gotransparent. The study:Follow the thread“ which introduced the Transparency Pledge in April 2017. The 17 brands that signed the Transparency Pledge and disclosed all information are: adidas, ASICS, ASOS, C&A, Clarks, Cotton On Group, Esprit, G-Star RAW, H&M Group, Hanesbrands, Levis, Lindex, New Look, Next, Nike, Patagonia and Pentland Brands. The Transparency Pledge is supported by the following organisations: Human Rights Watch, Clean Clothes Campaign, the International Corporate Accountability Roundtable, International Labour Rights Forum, the Workers Rights Consortium, the Maquila Solidarity Network, IndustriALL Global Union, UNI Global Union and the International Trade Union Confederation. This alliance of human rights and labour organisations, as well as trade unions, is currently reviewing whether the signatory brand companies are complying with their obligations. Press release of 31 January 2018
