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Agreements on International Responsible Business Conduct
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IRBC Agreements

Agreements promoting International Responsible Business Conduct (IRBC agreements) involve partnerships between businesses, government, unions and NGOs. Together, these partners work to prevent such abuses as exploitation, animal suffering and environmental damage.

Cotton pickers in action. Illustration for the Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile.

Why conclude IRBC agreements?

International business dealings may involve complex problems such as environmental pollution and child labour. By concluding agreements, businesses work with other stakeholders to tackle these problems.
Background of the IRBC Agreements

Background

In 2014, the Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands (SER) recommended concluding multistakeholder agreements in each relevant sector. By cooperating, stakeholders can concentrate their efforts to combat abuses.
Man working at his sawing machines. Illustration for the Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile.

Agreements overview

There are IRBC agreements in the garments and textile, banking, and gold sectors. Other agreements are being negotiated.

State of play

Brief overview of the state of play with all IRBC agreements.

Agreements

IMVO convenat Kleding en textiel Garments and Textile
Banking Sector Agreement Banking
Gold sector Gold
Natural stone TruStone
Food Products
Insurance
Pension Funds
Agreement for the Metals Sector Metals
Wind Energy Wind Energy
agreements

News

30 March 2021

Benchmarks help companies participating in Sustainable Garments and Textile Agreement tackle living wage gap

The Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile is publishing a list that reveals the difference between minimum wage and living wage in the garment and textile industry in many countries. Understanding the difference between the two allows companies to take steps to bridge this gap. The list covers almost fifty countries and regions and was compiled using data provided by WageIndicator and The Global Living Wage Coalition.

Garments and Textile
Clothing companies increase transparency by signing the Transparency Pledge: From left to right, top to bottom: Ninke Gijzel (Buying Director, De Bijenkorf), Floor Smits (Head of Brands, Essenza Home), Jan Bongers (director Euretco Fashion), Janneke van der Meij (CEO, L. ten Cate), Nicolette van Bruggen (Chief Product Officer, O'Neill Europe), Anneloes van der Heijden (co-founder/owner, Studio Anneloes) and Zsuzsa Kozma (Purchasing Manager, Vanilia).
25 February 2021

Clothing companies increase transparency by signing the Transparency Pledge

The number of clothing and textile companies which endorse the Transparency Pledge goes up again.

Garments and Textile
Flag Europe
17 February 2021

SER contributes to EC consultation on sustainability in corporate governance

The European Commission has recently concluded a public consultation on sustainability in corporate governance. The Social and Economic Council (SER) provided input.

News overview