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On the occasion of the International Women's Day, the Global Policy Forum, FIAN Germany, Women Engage for a Common Future, the Action Community Solidarity World, the CorA Network for Corporate Responsibility, FEMNET, the Marie-Schlei-Verein and TransFair / Fairtrade Germany point out that gender equality is not sufficiently taken into account in the present draft of a supply chain law. The compromise presented by the German government does not adequately reflect Germany's obligations to combat discrimination against women. Corrections are urgently needed in the upcoming parliamentary revision process. To this end, the organizations call on the members of the Bundestag.

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Joint press release by FEMNET e.V. and Public Eye

Zurich/Lausanne, Bonn. FEMNET and Public Eye have jointly analyzed the reporting of fashion companies whose products are certified with the "Green Button" of the German Ministry of Development. The sobering result one year after the start of the Green Button: Public reporting by many companies is inadequate. Standard and testing process have shortcomings, so that the Green Button does not deliver in practice, which many of them promise: Clothes and textiles produced without exploitation or pollution. Sealers and seal holders urgently need to improve.

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© Sina Marx ⁇ FEMNET, Dhaka 2019

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.

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No living wages, overtime and gender discrimination. The report:Light into the dark: A Look at Exploitation in the Fashion Industry“ (PDF file) of the Clean Clothes Campaign highlights the need for a supply chain law.

The report uses the latest data from the Online tool FashionChecker How little German fashion companies really pay their workers.

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© Initiative Supply Chain Act

Bonn/Berlin. Apparently, there will again be no agreement in the cabinet today on the supply chain law promised in the coalition agreement. Non-governmental organizations in the Textile Alliance warn against dilution. A supply chain law must not be limited to large companies. A supply chain law must legally oblige all companies to respect human rights and environmental standards in their supply chain and enable victims to be compensated in German courts.

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Berlin/Bonn/Cologne. Today, Federal Ministers Gerd Müller and Hubertus Heil will present the results of the Federal Government's survey on human rights compliance along global supply chains. It is to be feared that these do not turn out well and that a large part of German companies disregard human rights.

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The Global Nature Fund (GNF) and FEMNET are launching a joint project to improve the procurement of textiles in companies. Through targeted Purchasing strategies are positively influenced by sustainable working conditions and environmental impacts along the supply chain. A survey for all interested companies is currently underway to determine the consulting needs.

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Bonn, 23.06.2020 – On the occasion of the fashion retailer’s shareholders’ meeting on 23 June 2020, the women’s rights organisation FEMNET Zalando calls for the creation of a ‘fund for living wages’ for the seamstresses in its supply chain. FEMNET also calls for transparency on Zalando's purchasing practices. At the same time as the publication of the Fashion checkers, Uncovering details of wages in the supply chains of 108 fashion brands around the world, the company is said to provide information on due diligence obligations towards employees in its supply chain.

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If the group does not move forward, the shareholders can show it the way. For example, on the occasion of the Hugo Boss Annual General Meeting, shareholder and FEMNET Chairman Dr Gisela Burckhardt calls for the creation of a ‘fund for living wages’ for the group’s seamstresses in its supply chains. At the latest in times of the corona crisis, it is now becoming apparent that without sustainable income structures, the survivability of the clothing industry and its employees is at stake.

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Press release of civil society in the Textile Alliance

Seven years after the factory collapse of Rana Plaza, textile workers are once again plunging into a crisis due to COVID-19. Right now, the Alliance for Sustainable Textiles must prove itself as an authority for safeguarding human rights responsibility, demands civil society in the Textile Alliance. While brand and retail companies are responding to the COVID-19 crisis with far-reaching cancellations from their suppliers, textile workers in the producing countries are suffering extreme economic hardship due to the loss of income. If the regular wage falls away, which often does not reach the end of the month anyway, there are no social security systems in place.

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Globally, supply chains are collapsing due to the coronavirus pandemic. In the face of factory closures, wage losses, rising food prices and strict curfews, the situation for precariously employed textile workers is becoming increasingly severe. FEMNET has set up an emergency fund to protect themselves and their families and ensure their existence. In India, FEMNET's partner organizations have started distributing food.

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Press release of the Supply Chain Act initiative, an alliance of which FEMNET is a member

Berlin. Time and again, German companies are involved in human rights violations and environmental destruction along their supply chains. In order to prevent this, Federal Development Minister Müller and Federal Labour Minister Heil had already promised in December to publish key points for a supply chain law. According to the editorial network Germany (RND), the Federal Chancellery has prevented the publication of the key points planned for today. The Supply Chain Act initiative calls on the federal government to fulfil its obligations under the coalition agreement and finally to advance the legislative process for a supply chain law.

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