“In West Africa, two million children on cocoa plantations – also for our chocolate. In the Congo, slaving children in mines for Coltan, which we need for our new Smartphones. Every third headstone in Germany comes from India, where 150,000 children in stone quarries toil.“
With these words, underlined, development Minister Gerd Müller (CSU) for the day against child labor on June 12. June, the need for a supply chain act, whose adoption could be back tomorrow, Tuesday, a large piece of closer.
Fair supply chains: Not a Trick, more in the case of suppliers
Miller’s Plan of care obligation in the entire value-added chains of German companies. Thus, all large companies would be obliged in this country to the world – also at our suppliers – fair wages paid and environmental standards are adhered to. And: Claimant had a right to damages, if people would right – or social standards are violated, be it in India, Panama, or Vietnam.
“We need to make it clear: we in Europe will bear responsibility”, stressed Müller. “It should be no entrepreneurs more stand up and say: I haven’t done anything actively against child labour and slavery in my supply chain.”
Also Minister of social Affairs and Hubertus Heil (SPD) are in favour of such a law. In addition, more than 100 environmental and human rights organizations are participating in the “Initiative supply chain law”. More than 200,000 people have already signed a Petition to Chancellor Angela Merkel.
“prospects” in FOCUS Online
FOCUS Online, we see not only problems but also solutions. We do not hide what is bad – but we also show what is done, and how each Individual can make a contribution. We give people and ideas that contribute to addressing the individual and societal challenges. To tell these particular stories, we have formed the K-Team. K is a Constructive one. All the items of the K-team can be found under the heading “perspectives”.
Germany: so Far, self-commitment
is for businesses so Far, only the self – commitment to comply with Social and environmental standards in Germany. Whether or not these agreed minimum standards are actually adhered to, is to show a company survey carried out by the government in the framework of the National action plan on business and human rights (NAP). Tomorrow the results of the second round of questions are to be handed over to the inter-Ministerial Committee.
However, everything points so far to the fact that less than half of the companies adhere to the minimum requirements. According to the coalition agreement which means that the legislator must be active, development Minister Müller and the Minister of social Affairs of salvation would pursue its plans for a supply chain act so forward.
- read also:EU presidency: Germany wants fairer trade
German economy granted cancellation
to prevent the German industry, however, at any price. The economy had been brought down by Corona in the “biggest crisis since the Second world war,” – said in a joint Statement, which is published by the Federation of German industry (BDI), the Confederation of German employers ‘ associations (BDA), the German chambers of industry and Commerce (DIHK) and the trade Association Germany (HDE) on Monday.
The international trade and supply chain relationships through the measures against the Coronavirus are already very complicated, if not to a complete Halt. Companies would now need all the resources in the fight against the Corona effect. Such a law would endanger the competitiveness of German companies. The associations give to the law proposal, i.e., a “rejection”.
the survey of companies by the NAP criticize the employers ‘ associations. In order to be considered as “fulfillers”, would be to consist of all 37 criteria. That is, “as would be some of the only students with a grade of 1+ a successful baccalaureate certificate. If it were, it would fall well as all of the students through graduation,“ reads the joint Statement of the critics of the Initiative.
- recommended reading: column, “small steps to save the world” – farewell to beloved Sneaker? Those who fight for the climate, should over his shoes
In the last half of the year reflect, however, have broken some of the German companies with the view of the employers ‘ associations. Thus, companies such as Tchibo, BMW, Ritter Sport or Nestlé Germany, now for binding rules in the context of a chain act of Delivery. The question therefore arises: Would reduce the mandatory global compliance with social Standards, the competitiveness of German companies, so really, as much as it feared the industry?
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“Fair trade must not cost Jobs”
“That depends on the setting of the company”, explains Stefan Schaltegger. The Professor for sustainability management at Leuphana University Lüneburg conducts research, among other things, to sustainable business models and entrepreneurship.
“There are companies that insist on the continuation of previously successful sequences. For them, change represents a Problem and is usually associated with great effort.“ Often such companies would also argue the loss of jobs, the threat in consequence of such a change, says Schaltegger.
“This is a static view. Whether jobs are lost or not, depends heavily on how the company implements the change. Who assesses the Situation at the present time, miss opportunities. Such changes over time, usually much less cons, or can even create benefits for the company – whether it is when Realising new potential for innovation, opening up, or the reduction of reputational and revenue risk.“
For sustainable enterprises the obligation to comply with social Standards at suppliers, could bring not only no disadvantages, advantages and innovations.
supply chain act: “child labour alone will not disappear as a result,”
it is Clear, according to Schaltegger: “delivery is the core content of the chain law implemented effectively, will lead to a new way of doing business.” The advance was by no means a guarantee that all abuses in the global supply chains, dissolving in the air, says the Economist. “The idea that by such a law child labor and poor working conditions from the chains of German companies supply totally disappear, I think, is illusory.” The main problem: supply chains are now highly dynamic, the suppliers would quickly replaced and could not be controlled around the clock.
“With a law, it is not done,” emphasized Schaltegger. “It must also be effective and with accompanying measures of competition – innovation is implemented.” In the foreground is not a complete documentation of violations, but an effective supplier development. Suppliers that do not adhere to the minimum standards, should not be rejected, therefore, of a German company, calls Schaltegger.
“Instead, I think make it much more important, training. Together with employers in countries such as Vietnam or Bangladesh, the embodiment of the training and explain why it is important that you improve the working conditions.“
Even if the legislator suppliers fair work does not comply with the supply chain brings the law now most likely on the way, void the obligation for the industry to pay attention even more to the fact that conditions. “The Motivation must come from the company, and therefore, the law should also be accompanied so that it can be efficient and innovation-promoting implemented,” says Schaltegger.
Also, the consumer is asked
the responsibility of the consumer, Add to this: Each Individual can help ensure that social Standards are not respected in the supply chains in the world better that child labour exists at some point – for example, by looking at buying bed linen or T-Shirts of the fabric to seal the “Green button”, or in the supermarket, only fair produced chocolate and bananas buy.
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