GENEVA (ILO NEWS) – The ILO launches a new report that is based on research from five countries and supply chains at a high-level event in The Hague, The Netherlands.
The report is a key deliverable of the ILO Sustainable Supply Chains to Build Forward Better project, which is financed by the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion of the European Commission. The innovative project uses supply chains as an entry-point for advancing decent work in five countries.
The high-level event was hosted by the Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands (SER) and financed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. More than 90 participants from business, government, employers’ and workers’ organizations, multistakeholder initiatives, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders discussed challenges and opportunities in advancing decent work in global supply chains in the context of expanding human rights due diligence requirements.
In his opening address, Director-General for Work and Pensions of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, Stan Kaatee, underlined the important work of the ILO in advancing decent work in global supply chains, as well as the value of tripartism.
“It takes three to tango”, said Stan Kaatee, Director-General at the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, referring to the critical role of social dialogue between representatives of government, employers and workers to foster more sustainable, inclusive and resilient supply chains. “As the main and only tripartite global organization in this field, the ILO must play a leading role in bringing together its tripartite constituents and other key stakeholders to advance decent work in supply chains”.
In her presentation of the new report, Director of the Sectoral Policies Department at the ILO, Alette van Leur, emphasized how global supply chains are undergoing rapid and profound changes. “We will continue to support sectoral social dialogue as we scale up our support to our constituents to seize the opportunities to advance decent work in supply chains in an increasingly uncertain world”, said Alette van Leur. Following the presentation of the report, panellists and participants further discussed the drivers that are radically re-shaping global supply chains, including expanding human rights due diligence requirements, and the value of wider stakeholder engagement.
“What we need is action,” said Marhijn Visser, Deputy Director for International Affairs at the Dutch employers’ association VNO-NCW. “Companies are ready to act, but governments, employers and workers must do more to address the root causes of decent work deficits in global supply chains in their countries”.
Participants underlined the key role of sectoral social dialogue in advancing decent work and addressing governance gaps in supply chains. The participants also called for new approaches, guidance and tools to address key supply chain risks, such as the new ILO Code of Practice on Safety and Health in Textiles, Clothing, Leather and Footwear Industries. During the event, the ILO announced the publication of the new Code in 15 languages.
“The key take-away for me is the urgent need to address governance gaps in global supply chains and strengthen labour market institutions,” said Lucia van Westerlaak, policy advisor on RBC issues at the largest Dutch trade union, FNV. “For this to happen, all countries must fully recognize and respect the enabling rights of freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining.”
The sectoral social dialogue platforms that the ILO has helped set up or reinforce in the five countries as part of the ILO Sustainable Supply Chains to Build Forward Better project are already proving successful in addressing challenges and opportunities in global supply chains.
“There no longer can be any doubt that sectoral social dialogue and strong social partners are key to making a lasting change”, said Alexandra van Selm, Policy Director at the Social and Economic Council (SER). “At the SER, we will continue to develop and promote sectoral cooperation, for example through International RBC Agreements, to foster more sustainable, inclusive and resilient supply chains”.
