Femnet e.V.

Pressemeldungen - Gegen Gewalt an Textilarbeiterinnen

23 November 2020 Preventing Violence in the Workplace - Implementation is stuck at EU level

November 25th is Women's Violence Day. Convention 190 against Violence and Harassment in the Workplace was adopted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in June 2019. However, despite the support of many countries, it has not yet been ratified in the EU. Individual states reject the agreement. FEMNET and the Clean Clothes Campaign CCC) now publishes a Position paperThat shows the urgency.

"The international production chains must not be carried out on the backs of women and girls", argues Renate Künast, Member of the Bundestag of the Greens. She draws attention to the risks of harassment in the workplace faced by women and girls around the world. Employees in the informal and low-wage sectors, such as the textile industry, are particularly affected. Like the politician Künast, FEMNET and the CCC therefore also demand in their current position paper Wages and gender-based violence (PDF file) Companies and politicians to implement appropriate measures. For example, victims of violence in the workplace should be given access to complaint-handling bodies.

With the ILO Convention 190, a legally binding international agreement is finally in place – a historic victory for all those who suffer particularly from violence and harassment in the world of work.

“Women and girls in particular are particularly exposed to high risks in international supply chains,” notes Renate Künast and supports the agreement: “The ILO Convention 190 includes provisions to prevent gender-based violence and support for victims. During its EU Presidency, the Federal Government must take the initiative at EU level to ensure that the ILO Convention is ratified in a timely manner.”

Numerous German politicians, including the responsible Minister of Labour Hubertus Heil (SPD), support the ratification of Convention 190, which was adopted in Geneva in June 2019.

However, implementation at EU level is failing. The necessary approval of all member states in the Council of the EU has so far failed due to a few member states blocking a decision. Germany must therefore take all the more decisive steps to pave the way for strong international and Germany-wide regulations against violence against women and sexual harassment in the workplace. That's why eleven Women's and labour rights organisations demanded in a letter to Minister Heilto advance the ratification process and report transparently on it.

Internationally, too, it is time to put pressure on: FEMNET and the CCC are supporting the #RatifyILO190 campaign together with partners in India and Bangladesh on 25 November, the Day against Violence against Women. Because violence in the workplace is the order of the day here, too, and the Convention has not yet been ratified here either.

Press contact:

Sina Marx, FEMNET e.V.
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Tel. 0163 8712171

 

FEMNET e.V.

FEMNET is a non-profit women's rights organization based in Bonn. Founded in 2007, the association advocates for better working conditions in the clothing industry of the global South, where much of the clothing used in the West is sewn. FEMNET requires companies to comply with social standards along the entire supply chain, for which the policy should create binding rules. Women in India and Bangladesh support FEMNET through a mutual legal assistance fund. In addition, the association supports partner organizations in the work against violence against women in the workplace and for better childcare in textile factories. In Germany, FEMNET conducts educational work at universities and schools, advises cities and municipalities on the purchase of fair workwear and provides information on seals and fair-produced clothing.

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