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

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

Banking

Wind Energy

agreements

News

28 July 2020

Wind energy sector pursues responsible business conduct agreement

The European wind industry is engaged in dialogue with other stakeholders to reach an international Responsible Business Conduct sector agreement. The aim is to sign the agreement before summer 2021.

Wind energy

15 July 2020

Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile applies OECD guidelines well

The written standards regarding corporate social responsibility of the Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Clothing and Textiles and their implementation are largely in line with the OECD Guidelines. This is apparent from an extensive analysis conducted by the OECD.

15 July 2020

Evaluation of IRBC agreements input for SER advice

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has commissioned an evaluation of the Agreements promoting International Responsible Business Conduct. The SER includes this evaluation in its advice to Minister Kaag of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation about the Dutch government’s future policy on international responsible business conduct.

News overview