Union representatives from Bangladesh, Cambodia and Indonesia arrived in the Netherlands on 15 November at the invitation of Dutch trade union federations and Agreement participants FNV and CNV. They were anxious to share their experiences back home with parties participating in the Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile.
The Dutch Responsible Gold Agreement has welcomed a new partner. Coolrec, a gold recycling firm, is joining the partnership. Coolrec, a subsidiary of Renewi (previously Van Gansewinkel), recovers gold and other materials from discarded devices and appliances.
The Dutch Banking Sector Agreement has welcomed a new partner. The NGO Save the Children is joining the agreement. Save the Children works to protect the rights of children and helps businesses incorporate such protection into their policy on international responsible business conduct (IRBC).
Agreement signed for international responsible investing in insurance sector.
The textile industry has established a basis for responsible garment manufacturing in the longer term. For the first time ever, businesses as a group will state which factories produce their clothing. They have also drawn up specific improvement plans to tackle poor working conditions, human rights and environmental and animal abuses.
While developing the Gold Covenant, several NGOs that are experts in addressing child labor and responsible mining (Hivos/Stop Child Labour (SCL), UNICEF, Fairtrade and Solidaridad) partnered up with two sustainable frontrunners in the electronics industry - Fairphone and Philips. The parties agreed to join forces with the aim of tackling child labor in Uganda by working closely with mining communities and connecting more responsible gold to the supply chains of Philips and Fairphone.
International Responsible Business Conduct (IRBC) Agreement for responsible gold value chain signed: Know, Show and Improve
The Dutch gold sector is cooperating to ensure responsible business conduct in the international gold value chain. Today, electronics manufacturers and jewellery makers, gold recycling firms, civil society organisations and the Dutch government signed the Dutch Gold Sector International Responsible Business Conduct (IRBC) Agreement. Their aim is to ensure greater respect for human rights, the environment and biodiversity throughout the chain, from mining to recycling. The first project under the agreement, to combat child labour in Uganda, is under development.
International Responsible Business Conduct (IRBC) agreements now have their own digital home. All the information about the various agreements can be found on one site: www.internationalrbc.org.
On 9 May 2017, the ‘living wage’ work group organised a workshop on this important topic for businesses, NGOs and trade unions affiliated with the Agreement on a Sustainable Garment and Textile Sector. ‘Living wage’ is one of the nine priorities specified in the agreement.
A round table discussion with MPs took place on Monday 13 February concerning progress on the International Responsible Business Conduct (IRBC) agreements. The round table was organised at the request of the House Committee on Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation and the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs.
