Agreements
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 sector
Natural stone TruStone Initiative
Food Products sector
Insurance
Pension Funds
Agreement for the Metals Sector Metals sector
agreements

News

CNV international publishes video on freedom of assiociation
13 January 2020

CNV international publishes video on freedom of assiociation

Freedom of Association is one of the key themes within the Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile. Participating brands commit to respect freedom of association and social dialogue in their international supply chains, as it is a fundamental right of workers and a fundamental human right to organize in a trade union.

Garments and Textile
State of play of the Dutch Banking Sector Agreement
17 December 2019

State of play of the Dutch Banking Sector Agreement

In December 2019 the Dutch Banking Sector Agreement on international responsible business conduct regarding human (DBA) rights ended after three years of hard work. Although the DBA is officially at the end of its term, a final monitoring report and an accompanying steering group statement is expected in Q2 2020.

Banking
Network connections of icons.
17 December 2019

Recommendations for enabling remediation

In May 2019 Parties within the Dutch Banking Sector Agreement published a paper on enabling remediation. This paper explores the role and responsibility of banks with regard to remedy, when connected to human rights impacts through client relationships.

Banking
News overview