PRESS RELEASE NO. 30/2020 IG Metall: The Supply Chain Act Must Be Enacted Now!

Frankfurt am Main – On World Day for Decent Work on October 7, IG Metall reaffirms the urgency of the Supply Chain Act. The union, in collaboration with many other social initiatives, is calling for the introduction of a law that guarantees human rights, labor rights, and environmental standards and ensures transparency throughout the entire supply chain.

Wolfgang Lemb, executive board member of IG Metall, emphasizes: “The Supply Chain Act is long overdue. The World Day for Decent Work is a good opportunity to remind ourselves what this law is all about: decent work, throughout the entire supply chain, worldwide. Policymakers should reflect on this and finally clear the way for this law.”

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic underscores the urgency of a supply chain law. The role of supply chains—both nationally and globally, including for German industry—has inevitably become and continues to become increasingly apparent.  

The importance of such a law is also emphasized by employee representatives from more than 50 German industrial companies, who represent around one million employees. For example, the chairs of the general works councils and works councils at Airbus, BMW, Daimler, Kuka, Viessmann, and Thyssenkrupp are signatories to a statement calling on the federal government to introduce a law. This law would link violations of due diligence obligations to effective sanctions, such as exclusion from public tenders and the imposition of fines.

“The law needs to include civil liability to be effective,” said Wolfgang Lemb, executive board member of IG Metall.

Further information and press photos of Wolfgang Lemb