Femnet e.V.

The role of European businesses and public authorities

More and more municipalities are paying attention to compliance with at least basic labour rights when purchasing certain goods, such as workwear. The great market power of the public sector can be an enormous lever to improve working conditions. The FEMNET factsheet informs about grievances in the production of workwear and how buyers can take responsibility.

Working conditions in the workwear industry in Tunisia

The textile industry is a key economic sector in Tunisia. It is characterised by a strong dependence on the European market. As in the fashion industry, there are serious labour rights violations. Through fair procurement, public authorities can help to improve conditions. The FEMNET factsheet summarizes the main findings of the associated study.

Working conditions in the workwear industry in India

The production of workwear is an emerging sector in the Indian textile industry. However, as in the fashion industry, there are serious labour rights violations. Through fair procurement, public authorities can help to improve conditions. The FEMNET factsheet summarizes the main findings of the associated study.

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Category: Faire öffentliche Beschaffung

Since the current data situation is more than incomplete, the study ‘Sustainability is not in vain’ seeks to identify the relevant factors for pricing or differences in the pricing of conventional textiles compared to sustainable textiles by incorporating the expertise of the various actors (manufacturers, suppliers, textile service companies, buyers, purchasing associations, associations, experts). It differentiates between manufacturer prices, dealer prices, offer prices and care prices, deals with rental and purchase models and illustrates the impact of sustainability standards on the price of textiles using concrete case studies for workwear and flat linen. In addition, the study also covers initial approaches to integrating life cycle costs into the supply of workwear and flat linen.

Rounded off by recommendations that differentiate between different stakeholder groups (politics, large consumers, suppliers) and a comprehensive service section, the study is a helpful read for all those involved in textile procurement, including beginners.

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Category: Faire öffentliche Beschaffung

Workwear made in India

The Non-governmental organization Cividep investigated textile factories for FEMNET, which produce for the European companies BartelsRieger, Olymp and Cerva Group. Result: Statutory minimum wages are not respected and workers are not paid according to their skills. There are also massive violations in terms of working hours, overtime, maternity leave, leave, employment contracts. Job security is low, trade union work is suppressed.

Workwear made in Tunisia

The labour law organisation FTDES researched for FEMNET in suppliers of the European occupational clothing companies S-Gard, Havep and Alsico. Employees report wages well below livelihoods. Many workers are held in temporary, insecure employment relationships, although a permanent contract is legally entitled to long-term employees. Trade union work is severely hampered and sanctioned

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Category: Faire öffentliche Beschaffung

Whether rain jacket, sweater or mud pants: Finding fair clothing and shoes isn't that hard. You just need to know how. This shopping aid is intended as an easy-to-understand orientation: for all those who want to practice fair shopping.

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Category: Faire öffentliche Beschaffung

In a study, FEMNET examined various traceability solutions, which can be used in particular in the supply chains of workwear and flat linen. Do they keep what they promise? And what added value can they have for buyers in practice? The result: Traceability solutions are a potential tool for a sustainable textile and clothing industry, but only as good as the data they are fed from. Through their use, buyers can promote transparency and sustainability. However, it should be noted that while digital solutions may be of significant relevance in market research, they do not yet replace an examination of submitted evidence.

Further details of the study

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Category: Faire öffentliche Beschaffung

Together with the cities of Bonn, Cologne and Stuttgart, FEMNET has developed practical models to integrate social standards into procurement. This guide is aimed primarily at procurers, but also at policy makers and, in addition to the legal basis, contains numerous examples and templates for Council decisions, instructions and text modules for tenders.

Shopping Fair in Fairtrade Towns

This brochure provides important guidance for enforcing fair procurement in fair trade towns. In concrete practical tips, it is shown how city administrations can use products from socially responsible and ecological production for the procurement of professional clothing and other textiles.

Brochure "Step by step. Your way to fair public procurement of service and protective clothing"

The brochure is the result of cooperation between FEMNET and the City of Bonn. It offers practical tips and hints for the implementation of a fair procurement. It is aimed at procurement managers who are striving for a social purchasing practice for their municipality, and at organisations who are dealing with the topic for the first time and want a guide through the complex matter.

This is how sustainability works!
Germany and the Global Sustainability Agenda 2018

The report documents 17 flagship initiatives and projects on how we can organise ourselves more socially just and ecologically clean in Germany and around the world. FEMNET presents initiatives of the cities of Bonn, Cologne and Stuttgart for a fair public purchase of workwear. With their report, the editors want to shake up politics and show in which range sustainability is already being implemented in practice.

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Category: Faire öffentliche Beschaffung

Based on the experience of the consultations of two smaller municipalities, FEMNET has summarized in this brochure how municipalities with fewer (shopping) staff can make their important contribution to socially and ecologically sustainable purchasing. There are ways to achieve something, even if the staffing level is thin, political backing is (still) lacking or legal uncertainties exist.

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Category: Faire öffentliche Beschaffung

FEMNET accompanied the public tenders of the cities of Bonn, Cologne and Stuttgart for service clothing and safety shoes. In particular, the manual examines the demonstration of these products ‘under the microscope’: Quality marks and alternative proof checks are presented in detail.

This brochure is aimed at procurement managers in cities and large municipalities who are involved in the introduction and further development of fair procurement practices.

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Category: Faire öffentliche Beschaffung