Femnet e.V.

Corporate Responsibility (CSR) & Supply Chain Act

Supply Chain Act: For a law that benefits workers!

Effective corporate human rights compliance legislation – in Germany and Europe

The German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) has been in force since 1 January 2023. It aims to protect human rights and the environment along global supply chains. With our project, we want to contribute to ensuring that trade unions and affected workers can make meaningful use of the law to counter labour rights violations.

Objectives of the project

1. Improving German law and EU regulation
   The project will work to ensure that the federal government corrects the shortcomings of the law, ensures effective implementation and advocates for a Europe-wide regulation that goes beyond German law at decisive points.
2. Making the law usable for those affected
   Southern partners are enlightened and, in the event of legal violations, supported in claiming their rights in the sense of the LKG against companies.

Project activities:

Lobbying Germany and the EU:

Together with Initiative Supply Chain Act, CorA, Clean Clothes Campaign Germany and International

Public relations and educational work

Development of educational materials on the Supply Chain Act for schools and universities, lectures and workshops for the public and students, social media, press releases

Workshops Southern partners

Organisations in the producing countries will be fully informed about the possibilities to protect those affected by the Supply Chain Act, which will enter into force as of 2023. Together with our partners and the ECCHR, we will select and document suitable cases of affected persons. The cases are to be further developed after the entry into force of the Act 2023 in such a way that rights of injured persons can be asserted in court before the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA). The complaints and / or complaint(s) should be accompanied in a public manner.

Casework

Persons affected by labour rights violations should be supported in claiming their rights vis-à-vis German companies. To this end, in November 2022, we publicly called on companies that have not yet signed the Accord to do so.. We are currently investigating a complaint in Germany.

No contracts, no rights: How the fashion industry is cheating its workers on minimum wages

In December 2023, a study was published jointly by FEMNET and ECCHR with the National Trade Union Federation (NTUF), one of Pakistan’s main trade union organisations, after months of research. The focus was on the labour law compliance of companies that fall under the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act and have them produced in Pakistan. The grievances are serious.

Download the study in German or English

One year supply chain law: Speakers Tour from 22. - 31 January 2024 on working conditions in Pakistan

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.

All dates and information

News and Announcements

• 07.12.2023Press release: Supply Chain Act has an impact: Fashion brands respond to indications of labour rights violations
• 24 April 2023 First complaint case filed under German Supply Chain Act
• 20 January 2023Open letter: Why do you want to make the EU Supply Chain Act ineffective, Mr Voss?
• 20 January 2023Business loopholes: MSI and Certifications
• 24 November 2022Supply Chain Act – now German companies must deliver: Human rights organizations threaten to complain about textile companies neglecting safety in factories
• 24 November 2022Open letter: Non-fulfilment of human rights due diligence obligations in accordance with the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act in the field of occupational health and safety