All News & Press Releases

© FEMNET

On 13 September 2023, the Ministry of Development (BMZ) awards the Engagement Award for outstanding personal commitment in development cooperation for the fifth time. With the engagement award in the categories of young and long-standing commitment, the BMZ honours personalities who are particularly involved in the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. At a ceremony at the Ministry in Berlin, Development Minister Svenja Schulze honours five award winners, including FEMNET CEO Dr. Gisela Burckhardt.

Read more …

© Shahidul Islam

After five years, the minimum wage in Bangladesh will be renegotiated. Trade unions are calling for an increase in wages to 23,000 Taka in order to secure the basic supply of workers. In recent months, trade union intimidation by factory owners has become more common. Following the murder of trade unionist Shahidul Islam, FEMNET is reaching further worrying news indicating a growing risk for workers and trade unionists.

Read more …

With the fashion interACTION network, FEMNET contributes to the cross-university, supra-regional networking of students who are committed to human rights and a social-ecological change in the textile and clothing industry. There are already many student initiatives and organizations that are committed to a sustainable change in the industry. The new platform simplifies networking, shares resources and knowledge, and strengthens motivation.

Read more …

On 27 September 2023 at 7 p.m., we will launch the network fashion interAction – networked – fair – informed. In response to the serious grievances of the fashion industry, many students and student initiatives have already set out to work for decent working conditions, the protection of the environment and human rights. The new network fashion interAction bundles this broad commitment, networking active people nationwide in order to bundle knowledge and resources and achieve more together.

Read more …

© hceebee - flickr.com

Bonn, Berlin, Dachau. In Central Asian Turkmenistan, state authorities force tens of thousands of people from state and private companies as well as universities to work in the cotton harvest every year. This makes Turkmenistan one of the states in which forced labour is systematically and state-organized.

The textile alliance, set up to implement fair working conditions from the cotton field to the hanger, remains inactive. NGOs requested the recommendation to all member companies to stop the processing of cotton from forced labour in Turkmenistan and to sign the call for a boycott of Turkmen cotton (Turkmen Cotton Pledge of the Cotton Campaign). By refusing, the Textile Alliance misses an opportunity to contribute to the abolition of a state-organized forced labour system. In the run-up to the 2023/24 cotton harvest, clear positioning could have increased international pressure on Turkmenistan.

Read more …

© Friends of the Earth Europe

In February 2022, the European Commission presented its proposal for the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) to protect human rights and the environment. The position of the Council of Ministers followed in December 2022. In months of negotiations, the committees of the European Parliament have formulated a compromise, which was put to the vote and adopted on 1 June.

Read more …

© CIVIDEP, India

In the Indian state of Karnataka, with its stronghold of the textile industry Bengaluru, drastic changes to an important working process are about to be implemented. The so-called Factories Bill 2023, Karnataka Amendment It replaces a standard that has been in force to date. Important labour law achievements such as the abolition of night shifts or the introduction of 8-hour days are to be lifted. The amended law is intended to give suppliers more leeway to react more flexibly to orders. The labour law organization Cividep expects significant deteriorations in working conditions for thousands of female employees.

Read more …

Logo Justice is everyone's business

© Justice is Everybody’s Business

Together with the Supply Chain Act initiative, numerous organisations and civil society, we have been working for a long time to protect human rights, the climate and the environment in supply chains. On 1 June, MEPs in the European Parliament will be able to vote on their position on the EU Supply Chain Act. Together we want to make it clear to them once again: It is important to vote for the European Supply Chain Act now!

Read more …

© Engagement Global / Compass Sustainability

In the future, buyers will be able to create interactive proof questionnaires for bidding companies using a new online tool without any Excel knowledge in order to check compliance with sustainability criteria. The proof questionnaire generator will be available free of charge from summer 2023 in the new ‘My Compass’ login area of the SKEW Sustainability Compass.

Read more …

More Articles …