© FEMNET EU Supply Chain Act: Not consistent enough for ‘large litter’ On 23 February 2022, the EU presented its draft pan-European supply chain law. This is a good signal for compliance with human rights and climate protection along global supply chains. In terms of the size of the companies, the EU draft is more ambitious than the German one. At the same time, there is also a lack of sufficient liability rules for companies or references to gender-sensitive measures to protect workers, especially women and girls, from exploitation and violence. Details Published: 24 February 2022 Read more …
Protection of human rights postponed: Brussels pushes EU supply chain law on the long bank - European civil society protests at EU Commission The Supply Chain Act for Germany has been adopted since June 2021 and finally holds German companies accountable. Now, an EU supply chain law is the next step in protecting human rights and the environment in supply chains. However, there have been delays here for months. "It is very worrying that the business lobby in Brussels seems to be trying to gain time to prevent or postpone an EU supply chain law. Now the traffic light coalition must show that it is serious about what it promised in the coalition agreement. A strong EU supply chain law would also improve the protection of women's rights in the garment supply chain," said Gisela Burckhardt, FEMNET CEO. FEMNET therefore supports the open letter of the European Supply Chain Initiative to the European Commission. Details Published: 09 December 2021 Read more …
The EU Supply Chain Act must be gender-responsive The European Coalition for Business Justice and 60 civil society organisations have sent an open letter to EU Commissioners and other policy makers calling on them to make the future human rights and environmental due diligence legislation of companies gender-sensitive. The open letter to the European Union of 29 November 2021 (PDF file) Details Published: 30 November 2021 Read more …
Bundestag adopts supply chain law - what can textile workers hope for now? For a long time, FEMNET has advocated a legal regulation for companies to ensure compliance with labour and human rights requirements of their suppliers. The Supply Chain Act has now been passed. Details Published: 14 June 2021 Read more …
Never again Rana Plaza: Only a binding law can protect people along the supply chain 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. Details Published: 19 April 2021 Read more …
© FEMNET Supply Chain Law is Coming! - but with compromises 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. Details Published: 12 February 2021 Read more …
70 economists call for supply chain law In one 70 economists speak out in public (PDF file) for the introduction of a supply chain law in Germany. From an economics perspective, a supply chain law is necessary and feasible, according to the signatories. The project has been controversial between the coalition parties for months and is repeatedly delayed. Details Published: 14 January 2021 Read more …
© Initiative Supply Chain Act Initiative protests with more than 222,222 signatures at the Federal Chancellery - Cabinet debate on supply chain law postponed again 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. Details Published: 09 September 2020 Read more …
Delay in final spurt – Altmaier blocks draft supply chain law 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. Details Published: 01 September 2020 Read more …
E-mail protest campaign - Call against resistance to the Supply Chain Act 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. Details Published: 06 August 2020 Read more …
