The sixth issue of our G*OSH newsletter is here!
This issue focuses on a topic that is becoming increasingly important as a result of the climate crisis: Heat stress in the workplace.
The new issue sheds light on the gender dimensions of heat stress and focuses on the experiences of workers in India and Indonesia. Employees and trade unions have their say. There is also news from the project partners TURC, Paradigm Shift, SÜDWIND and FEMNET.
© FEMNET
This summer, the European Commission interviewed companies and scientists, NGOs, trade unions and citizens about the implementation of the European Supply Chain Directive (CSDDD). FEMNET participated in the consultation. In total, more than 500 questionnaires were submitted. The main focus of the consultation was on how to implement the Directive in the most cost-effective way. However, it should be crucial which tools are most effective in safeguarding human rights and protecting the environment and climate.
© Initiative Supply Chain Act
One Investigative research by ZDF has disclosed how the Ministry of Economic Affairs under Katherina Reiche imputed to her Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) systematically prevents it from fulfilling its statutory mandate of enforcing and monitoring the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG). Insiders report that:Pressure from above“to close proceedings quickly, not to punish violations of the law and not to investigate new complaints in the first place.
© AI-generated with Perplexity
How much human work is actually behind AI tools such as chatbots, image generators, automatic content filters on social media, search systems, facial recognition or translation? Most of the time, this work remains invisible, and we haven't thought much about it yet. Precise figures do not exist, but estimates estimate that there are about 154 to 435 million data workers worldwide.
© ESDO
Clean water changes lives. Thanks to the support of many donors, our well project was implemented in Bangladesh. Today, 10,000 people benefit from safe access to clean drinking water.
Ki-generated with ChatGPT
FEMNET has signed the joint statement "Strong standards protect people, democracy and livelihoods". Together with more than 150 organisations, companies, associations and scientists, we appeal to the Federal Government and the European institutions not to weaken the protection of human rights, the environment and democracy in favour of a supposed reduction in bureaucracy.
In yesterday's meeting of the coalition committee, the party leaders of the CDU/CSU and SPD decided to massively restrict the scope of the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) in the context of the CSDDD implementation - a potentially illegal step with far-reaching consequences for the protection of human rights and the environment.
© FEMNET
On 21 June 2026, the speaker training “Futures Literacy for the Fashion Industry” on the new educational project “Fabric for Tomorrow” took place. A total of 14 participants received an introduction to the concept of Futures Literacy and got to know methods with which they can support students in actively shaping the future.
© FEMNET
What effect do social and ecological certifications and standards actually have on the working and living conditions of textile workers? A new study by the Bangladesh Institute for Labour Studies (BILLS) investigates this question. FEMNET has classified the results together with further findings from the ongoing project in a complementary analysis.
With Paradigm Shift, FEMNET has won a new partner organization for the implementation of the project on gender-responsive health protection in India. The organisation is committed to human and labour rights and brings many years of experience in cooperation with workers, companies and political actors.
© Christian Bezdekovsky
How can young people understand the global context of the fashion industry and what role does their own consumption play? Students of the Franken-Gymnasium Zülpich dealt with these questions as part of a workshop by FEMNET.
The 2025 annual report looks back on a turbulent year marked by global upheavals and political headwinds – from drastic cuts in development aid, to the worrying softening of supply chain laws in Germany and the EU, to the increasing repression of trade unions in producing countries such as India, Myanmar and Bangladesh. But instead of capitulating to these resistances, the report shows FEMNET's commitment: With powerful protests, such as the handover of 210,000 signatures to the Federal Chancellery, FEMNET has taken a clear stance and proved that the commitment against exploitation and civil society restrictions must be louder than ever, especially in times of crisis.
