Search results
42 results
Sort by:
Omnibus proposal will create costly confusion and lower protection for people and the planet
On 8 November 2024, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced she would introduce a proposal to amend three key pillars of the European Green Deal through an Omnibus law: the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and the Taxonomy Regulation. As members of civil society, human rights and environmental defenders, trade unions and climate activists in this statement published on 14 January 2025, we call on the European Commission to actively protect these EU corporate accountability laws, reaffirm the official timeline for their transposition and implementation, and be fully transparent about the Omnibus process.
CSO Textile Coalition Priorities for the 2024-29 EU Legislature
The EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles adopted in 2022 and its complementary parliamentary resolution represented a landmark moment on the road to more accountability in the textile sector. The much-needed policies set out in the Textile Strategy which were initiated during the last mandate must continue to be developed and implemented in the direction of environmental and social justice. This statement from October 2024, by six unions and NGOs sets expectations and priorities for the new legislative cycle.
Our contribution to the EU Flagship initiative on garment
2015 is the European year for development. In this context, the European commission want to launch an EU flagship initiative on responsible management of the supply chain in the garment sector. Clean Clothes Campaign accepted the invitation to contribute in the identification of this flagship initiative and to participate in an informal meeting with stakeholders gathered on 23 January in Brussels.
CCC dissappointed by lack of action transparency EU
On the 25th of April 2016, the European Commission launched its flagship initiative to promote responsible management of the supply chain in garment. The Clean Clothes Campaign continues to urge the Commission to create real transparency in the garment sector.
CCC statement on the use of Syrian workers in high street supply chains
Clean Clothes Campaign welcomes the attention received by the recent BBC Panorama investigation into the exploitation of Syrian refugees, including children, within the supply chains of major European clothing retailers. We are calling on the Turkish government, the European Union and all major clothing brands to make sure adequate protections are in place that guarantee full respect of the rights of Syrian workers that will continue to be employed in the production of our clothing.
CCC urge EU to address Sri Lanka's labour violations prior to re-admission GSP+
Clean Clothes Campaign, IndustriALL Global Union and the International Trade Union Confederation urge the European Union to adopt a roadmap for Sri Lanka with time-bound measures to comply with the ILO core conventions before the country can benefit from GSP+. Sri Lanka is currently in serious breach of those conventions.
Focus on labour rights in Sri Lanka prior to the decision on preferential trade access to the EU market
Two Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) visited Sri Lanka to evaluate respect for labour rights prior to the European Union's decision on granting Sri Lanka the so-called GSP+ preferential trade access. During the visit the government committed to labour rights improvements, such as progress on ongoing cases, allowing trade union access to export processing zones, a revision of the labour law and of the union threshold (currently at 40%), and ensuring that the benefits of the preferential trade status would be shared with the workers.
EU should use review to push for workers' rights and freedom of association in Bangladesh
Tomorrow, 18 May, the third annual review of the so-called "Sustainability Compact" between Bangladesh, the European Union and the International Labour Organization takes place in Dhaka. Despite optimism voiced by the EU, Bangladesh is still far from meeting its international labour rights' commitments and taking concrete steps enshrined under the Compact. A striking example is the wave of repression which the the Bangladeshi labour movement has faced since December 2016. Clean Clothes Campaign calls upon the EU, as well as brands, national governments and other stakeholders, to maintain pressure on the Bangladeshi government to improve labour conditions and comply with the Compact's demands.
European Parliament should vote for an investigation into Bangladesh labour violations
Clean Clothes Campaign is today calling on members of the European Parliament to call for a trade investigation into labour rights abuses as part of a resolution on Bangladesh that will be debated this Wednesday. Such an investigation would be carried out by the European Commission in order to assess whether the ongoing and systematic repression of trade union rights in Bangladesh should disqualify it from accessing preferential trading terms with the EU.
European Parliament slams Bangladesh Government on human rights and calls for the continuation of the Accord
Today the European Parliament passed a resolution calling on the Bangladesh Government to urgently act to address deteriorating human rights conditions.
100 civil society organisations call for EU law to address environmental and human rights abuses in corporate supply chains
Ahead of the Finnish EU Presidency’s business and human rights event today, over 100 civil society organisations and trade unions have now signed a letter calling on the European Union to develop effective legislation, that would oblige companies and financial institutions to address the human rights and environmental impact of their global operations and supply chains.
Civil call for human rights and environmental due diligence legislation
Over 80 NGOs and trade unions have called on the European Commission to bring forth this term new corporate accountability legislation requiring companies to respect human rights and the environment in their global value chains and operations. The signatories urge that victims of corporate violations should have their access to judicial remedy enhanced by the new legislation.
NGOs welcome MEP initiative on responsible business conduct
A coalition of ActionAid, Amnesty International, Anti-Slavery International, Clean Clothes Campaign, the European Coalition for Corporate Justice and FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights) hope this will lead the European Commission to follow suit and take immediate steps to develop an action plan.
Joint civil society response to European Commission study into supply chain due diligence
Nine civil society organisations and networks strongly welcome the release of the findings from the European Commission’s study on due diligence requirements through the supply chain.
German Supply Chain law: step in the right direction, yet still failing workers affected by violations
We welcome the introduction of human rights due diligence as an obligation through the new supply chain law that was passed today in Germany. However, the law also has some serious shortcomings. We are calling for the upcoming EU level legislation to introduce comprehensive due diligence obligations and ensure access to justice for the victims, including through civil procedure.
Open letter to European Commissioners: Kalpona Akter calls for strong protections against violations and access to justice for victims
Bangladeshi human rights defender Kalpona Akter wrote an open letter to European Commissioners Didier Reynders and Thierry Breton who are jointly working on a legislative proposal on Sustainable Corporate Governance.
European Union one step closer to corporate accountability but with a long way to go
Clean Clothes Campaign cautiously welcomes the long awaited rules on corporate sustainable due diligence proposed by the European Commission. Whereas the proposal falls short of our recommendations, the introduction of a binding obligation on companies to carry out human rights and environmental due diligence is a major step toward corporate accountability. We call upon the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union as co-legislators to ensure that the legislation ultimately brings yet stronger protections for the workers and other rights holders.
Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence: EU legislators reach landmark political agreement but more is needed to guarantee workers’ rights
Early this morning, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union (EU) reached an agreement on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
European Parliament brings us one step closer to corporate accountability but key improvements are still needed
Clean Clothes Campaign, welcomes the European Parliament’s report on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) approved today with a broad cross-political majority. This vote marks an important step towards due diligence obligations for companies and corporate accountability.
Compromise EU law will start holding companies accountable, 11 years after Rana Plaza collapse
In a landmark vote, the European Parliament approved the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), a law representing a first step towards global value chains free from human rights and labour abuses as well as environmental harm. The text the Parliament green-lighted will cover only a very small minority of EU companies. The law also provides different enforcement options for Member States and avenues to remedy and justice for victims. However, the Directive still lacks rules removing obstacles victims face when they try to access justice in European courts. The final text does not include crucial International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Conventions on Occupational Safety and Health, leaving workers in hazardous and potentially lethal conditions. Clean Clothes Campaign will continue to advocate for ambitious rules during the transposition of the law by Member States.
Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence: Member States chose to protect corporate profits and fail workers and human rights
Today the Council of the European Union struck a blow to corporate accountability and workers’ rights in the garment and footwear industry by failing to endorse a deal it had made with the European Parliament and the Commission on landmark legislation to protect human rights and the environment from corporate abuse.
CCC statement on the report of the rapporteurs of the EP’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs on the proposal for a directive on adequate minimum wages in the European Union
The Clean Clothes Campaign in May 2021 sent this statement welcoming the initiative of the EU Commission and the Committee for Employment and Social Affairs of the EU parliament “to ensure both that minimum wages are set at adequate and fair level and that workers have access to minimum wage protection”. The 35 Million garment workers worldwide – mostly women – are typical statutory minimum wage earners. This includes almost 1 Million garment workers in Central East-, East- and South East EU Member States. One important criterion for the sourcing decisions of fashion brands and retailers is the statutory minimum wages of potential sourcing countries. Brands and fashion retailers look for the countries with the lowest statutory minimum wages. Among them are many countries beyond the „iron wage curtain“ within Europe.
Don’t lose the thread: the need for an ambitious tangible vision to change the textile sector
In this letter of 22 February 2022, unions and NGOs call upon the European Commission for an ambitious tangible vision to change the textile sector
Ensuring a gender-responsive Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence legislation
On the eve of Women's Day 2023, over 140 organisations sent an open letter to European policy makers this morning calling them to ensure a gender responsive Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence legislation.
Response to EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles
Civil society response to the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles released on 30 March 2022: textile strategy contains green ambitions but forgets workers from the equation.