Frankfurt – On the tenth anniversary of the Rana Plaza disaster, IG Metall is calling for internationally operating companies to be held more accountable and for the rights of workers worldwide to be effectively protected—through a strong European supply chain directive. “April 24 is not only a day to remember the factory collapse in Bangladesh, but also a day to criticize the irresponsibility and ignorance of many companies: toward life-threatening working conditions, poverty wages, the environmental disasters they cause, and reprisals against unions in global supply chains,” said Wolfgang Lemb, executive board member of IG Metall.
Effective European Regulation Needed
IG Metall combines the commemoration of those killed and injured at Rana Plaza with a call to political leaders in Germany and Europe to step up their efforts in support of the European Supply Chain Directive currently under negotiation. While the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, which recently came into force, represents an important step in the right direction, it is not sufficient. “In our view, the next step must be the necessary expansion of human rights, environmental, and climate-related due diligence obligations through European legislation,” said Wolfgang Lemb.
EU Directive Threatens to Become a Toothless Tiger
IG Metall warns against a watered-down regulation at the EU level. Wolfgang Lemb: “It’s touch-and-go in Brussels as to whether we’ll get an enforceable directive for European companies that meets at least the requirements of the German Supply Chain Act. Even the German law was merely a compromise that we accepted despite its many shortcomings. Now, unfortunately, parts of the German federal government and the opposition are also contributing to efforts to water down European standards as well.”
Greater Trade Union Involvement Needed
In particular, initiatives aimed at allowing companies to buy their way out of liability for violations of due diligence obligations through so-called “safe harbor” agreements must be clearly rejected. Likewise, the participation rights of labor unions must not be weakened in the directive. Wolfgang Lemb commented: “Trade unions must not be excluded when it comes to the rights of workers in supply chains. They must be involved in the development of effective reporting systems at production sites, as well as in monitoring companies’ due diligence obligations. Best practices in global framework agreements and social audits can make an effective contribution to this.”
Background
Ten years ago today, on January 24, 2013, the Rana Plaza garment factory in Bangladesh collapsed while it was still in operation. The disaster claimed more than a thousand lives and left many others injured.
Further information and press photos of Wolfgang Lemb
