Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector

Teaser Sessions

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Side Sessions Agenda

All side sessions times reflect your computer's local time zone

Day

1 : February 21, 2022
07:45
07:45 - 09:00
Human rights in the garment industry: the role of separating labour cost
by Oxfam Australia This panel discussion will explore the role of separating labour cost and how it can address human rights risk while maintaining competitiveness in the garment industry. Please register to attend this session.
08:00
08:00 - 09:00
Heightened due diligence in the Myanmar garment sector - the story so far
By Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business and EuroCham Myanmar The military coup in Myanmar on 1 February 2021 has had a devastating effect on Myanmar’s growing cut-make-pack apparel sector and put an end to any chances of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The clampdown on freedom of expression and association, including by trade unions, and safety risks for workers as a consequence of heightened military presence in industrial areas has prompted some brands to end sourcing from Myanmar. Others believe that exit will have a significant negative impact on hundreds of thousands of workers and their families, and that heightened human rights due diligence, taking into account the impacts of conflict on the sector and the sector on the conflict is essential in informing their sourcing decisions. This session will provide an update on these assessments and hear how brands, labour organisations and others are collaborating to identify heightened human rights risks, and prevent and mitigate them. Please register to attend this session.
09:00
09:00 - 10:00
Europe and Asia partnerships to support and link governments and SMEs to adopt sustainable textile consumption and production
by EU SWITCH-Asia Programme – Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) Facility This session will present the platforms for partnership and networks created in between Europe and Asia for the implementation of national policies and implementation of Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) practices by supporting Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to transition towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient and a more circular economy. The session will discuss regional and national initiatives in promoting SCP in the textile and garment sector at the level of enterprises and the supply chain and through a coherent policy framework that aims to minimize environmental, social, and economic risks. Please register to attend this session.
09:00 - 10:15
The importance of collaborative approaches to improve access to remedy: first approaches and looking ahead
by Fair Wear Foundation In this interactive session, the three organising organisations, Fair Wear, Partnership for Sustainable Textiles and amfori, together with other relevant industry stakeholders, will address the importance for collaborative approaches to improve access to remedy for workers in (textile and garment) supply chains. In addition to outlining the latest developments in access to remedy and how these stimulate the need for more collaboration during the panel discussion, the organisations will present first collaborative approaches and discuss opportunities and challenges. Please register to attend this session. To access the session recording on replay, use the passcode: $+HSiM8S.
10:00
10:00 - 11:15
Promoting responsible business conduct through improved safety and health measures
by International Labour Organization (ILO) The purpose of this ILO-led side-session is to share best practice approaches to improve occupational safety and health in the industry, including through due diligence and responsible business conduct and discuss ways to use the new ILO Code of practice on OSH in the textiles, clothing, leather and footwear industries as a tool to that effect. This session should allow governments to revisit and update OSH and related legislation, guidance, inspection and training; employers and workers organizations to update their guidance and inspection guidelines; brands to validate or update their own OSH guidance; and international organizations and other stakeholders to support new initiatives to improve OSH in the industry. To access the session recording on replay, use the passcode: 2@jT+Uak
The other end of the chain: The prospect of HREDD legislation and its impact on producing countries
by amfori It was in April 2020 that Didier Reynders, the EU Commissioner for Justice announced the EU would introduce legislation compelling companies that operate in the EU to conduct human rights and environmental due diligence. The session will explore the repercussions EU HREDD legislation could have on global trade, and the supply chain preparedness of producer countries. How are business partners / producers gearing up to the challenge / getting prepared / remaining competitive? What is the role for capacity building and awareness raising? As the scale and scope of business-related human rights issues gains wider attention, there is seemingly more at stake, including the direction of international trade and investment policy. Please register to attend this session.
11:00
11:00 - 12:15
Caste-based discrimination: a salient risk in the garment and leather supply chains in South Asia
by Arisa (Advocating Rights in South Asia), together with the International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN), Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), Rights, Education and Development Centre (READ) – India, and the Together for Decent Leather consortium "In South Asia, caste-based discrimination permeates every aspect of society, including the business sphere, therefore affecting the garment and leather supply chain. The session will share information on how caste-based discrimination displays itself on the workfloor in South Asia and participants will be equipped with tools to take action to protect and remedy human rights violations stemming from caste-based discrimination in their operations and supply chains.
11:00 - 12:00
Transparency as an essential lever for accelerated progress towards a sustainable sector
by The Sustainable Apparel Coalition The SAC has launched its transparency programme in 2021. In this session, we will give you an update of progress made and milestones to come and will discuss with industry and transparency experts how transparency can influence industry relations within the value chain and more sustainable design, production and consumer purchasing choices. Please register to attend this session.
12:00
12:00 - 13:15
Launching drivers for change: Introducing The Industry We Want (TIWW) dashboard on wages, purchasing practices and GHG emissions
by The Industry We Want Join stakeholders from across the supply chain as we share the first iteration of The Industry We Want’s ‘industry dashboard’: annual metrics on wages, purchasing practices and GHG emissions in the garment and footwear sector. Understand the current state of play in each of these areas, explore data and insights gathered with our partners and collaborate with like-minded stakeholders to drive industry-wide progress. Please register to attend this session.
12:00 - 13:00
S is for Scarce: how to close gaps in E and S data for effective due diligence in apparel and footwear
by Cornell University New Conversations Project Cornell University New Conversations Project will present 2021 findings from Sarosh Kuruvilla's new analysis of previously-unavailable data on labor governance and sourcing patterns. We will also reveal forthcoming analyses of climate change impacts in apparel and footwear production with new data on projected changes in income, jobs and sourcing patterns. A panel of practitioners--buyers, worker organizations and regulators--will debate the meaning of the new data and its implications for effective due diligence regimes. Please register to attend this session.
13:00
13:00 - 14:00
Due diligence on cotton cultivation
by Solidaridad Network Cotton cultivation takes place in a rural context and agricultural sector quite remote from the realities of the fashion industry and on which brands often feel that they have limited influence. The cotton value chain is a long and complex one. Traceability all the way to the cotton farm remains a challenge. Yet, cotton is a critical raw material for the garment and footwear sector and its cultivation may involve negative human rights impacts. In this context, how should brands implement due diligence when it comes to cotton? Can sustainability standards play a role? How can we ensure that due diligence regulations will not inadvertently exclude smallholder cotton farmers from global value chains? Please register to attend this session.
13:00 - 14:15
The role of chemistry in reducing Scope 3 GHG emissions
by Stahl The session hopes to achieve awareness around the meaning of “net zero” target setting and Scope 3 GHG emissions in the context of chemicals, given that chemistry plays such a significant role in the manufacture of garments and footwear. The actions underway in the industry to measure environmental impact using LCA methodology and to replace fossil fuel based materials in order to meet the collective commitment of the supply chain to reduce Scope 3 emissions, will also be discussed.
14:00
14:00 - 15:00
Digging into due diligence: applying lessons learned in the complex cotton supply chain
by Responsible Sourcing Network (RSN) "This session will cover the value of implementing due diligence within complex cotton supply chains, with a focus on empowering gatekeepers in the hard to reach—and all important—middle of the chain. Attendees will leave this session with a clear understanding of how effective due diligence management systems designed to identify and address forced labor in cotton production can: support individual brands’ traceability requirements; meet existing and future due diligence regulations; and help the industry prioritize risk mitigation efforts." Please register to attend this session.
Women’s empowerment in garment supply chains: how to achieve impact at scale
by Empower@Work. IFC/ILO's Better Work, BSR’s HERproject, CARE International’s MADE BY WOMEN and Gap Inc's P.A.C.E program into one unified initiative - Empower@Work Collective action by business, civil society, governments, workers, and worker representatives is essential to ensure that employment is a true catalyst for the empowerment of women who make up the majority of workers in the garment industry. The session will discuss how learnings from the last 10+ years of programmatic interventions are applied to the development of current collaborative solutions to reach impact at scale. Please register to attend this session.
15:00
15:00 - 16:15
Due diligence in the garment industry: challenges and opportunities in protecting children’s rights
by Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE) Building on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector, this expert panel will share best practices for garment brands and suppliers looking to implement strong due diligence requirements in order to identify, prevent, mitigate and remediate child labour in their supply chains. Please register to attend this session.
Investor action for human rights approaches that prioritize gender
by Boston Common Asset Management (BCAM) Investors are currently not prioritizing gender in an explicit and intersectional way in their human rights approaches despite the importance in doing so. During this session, we will explore and workshop practical guidance for how investors can prioritize gender in their human rights efforts, both institutionally as well as in their assessment of portfolio companies. There will be a limited number of attendees to ensure intimate and rich discussion. Interested parties can express their interest via email to LCompere@bostoncommonasset.com.
16:00
16:00 - 17:15
The traceability and transparency trend: the environmental, social and financial incentives for upstream supply chain disclosure
by Freedom Fund and Planet Tracker The session takes stock of the current state of play of upstream traceability and transparency, explores opportunities for improving the disclosure landscape, and argues that full supply chain traceability and transparency should be demanded by all stakeholders across the textiles supply chain. Please register to attend this session.

Day

2 : February 22, 2022
08:00
08:00 - 09:15
A gender perspective on human rights due diligence – practical tools and experiences in garment supply chains
by FOKUS- Forum for Women and Development and OECD Watch 80% of garment workers are women, at high risk of sexual harassment and low pay despite broad awareness of gender-based harassment in the industry. What are the persistent hurdles to overcome these human rights violations? Which tools and mechanisms are available for brands and other stakeholders? Are these effective and useful when viewed in the light of the experiences and perspectives of non-governmental organisations, unions and labour rights organisations, producers, and buyers? What is the most important measure these stakeholders will undertake to promote gender-equal and harassment-free workplaces in the global garment industry? And what would each stakeholder challenge the others to do better? These are the main questions for this solution-oriented side session, hosted jointly by OECD Watch and FOKUS – Forum for Women and Development, where we invite different stakeholders to share their perspectives and experiences. Please register to attend this session.
Beyond compliance in the garment industry: mandated modern slavery reporting and the role of garment brands and their investors in combating modern slavery in their supply chains
by Walk Free While the garment industry is a high-risk sector for exploitation of workers, with migrant workers and women being particularly vulnerable, often the disclosures released under mandatory reporting legislation, such as the UK and Australian Modern Slavery Acts, state that there are no significant issues of forced labour and debt bondage. Through the lens of new research conducted by Walk Free and WikiRate, this session will take a closer look at the status of current corporate disclosure on due diligence to combat modern slavery in garment supply chains, and the gap between this disclosure and the conditions in the factories that continue to foster exploitative practices. Please register to attend this session.
09:00
09:00 - 10:10
Implementing due diligence - the challenges and opportunities when sourcing textiles and garments from Uzbekistan
by amfori and Deutsche Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH The session will look into recent reforms/developments in the sector in Uzbekistan and highlight opportunities as well as challenges for international buyers and their due diligence, with an emphasis on capacity building. We foresee a balanced debate with CSOs, businesses, and international organisations as part of the panel. Please register to attend this session.
09:00 - 10:00
Regulating purchasing practices: strategies for tackling unfair trading practices in the garment sector
by Traidcraft Exchange / Fair Trade Advocacy Office The session will: a) raise awareness of unfair trading practices in the garment sector; b) examine barriers for manufacturers to challenge these unfair trading practices; c) debate on key features of the solution to stop unfair trading practices. During the session, we will explore as well policy options to regulate purchasing practices, including past experiences from other sectors.
10:00
10:00 - 11:15
Exploring the potential to capture value and reduce resource dependency through circular fashion systems in garment manufacturing countries
by Global Fashion Agenda Through sharing learnings from the Circular Fashion Partnership, this session aims to discuss the impact potential, business case and the key barriers that need to be addressed in supranational and European level policy making, to attract investment, scale recycling and enable effective, inclusive circular infrastructures in garment manufacturing countries. www.circularfashionpartnership.com Recording available for this session.
Promoting freedom of association and collective bargaining in the supply chain: a guided approach for brands
by CNV Internationaal & Mondiaal FNV Many brands struggle with due diligence on Freedom of Association (FoA) and Collective Bargaining (CB); the AMPLIFY project under the Dutch Agreement for Sustainable Garment and Textiles shows that brands can obtain more information on FoA in their supply chain and address these topics with their suppliers. In this session different action routes towards FoA and CB will be introduced and participating brands share their experiences on conducting due diligence on FoA and CB and the progress they made Please register to attend this session.
11:00
11:00 - 12:15
Beyond voluntary: civil society proposals to address poverty wages in global garment supply chains
by The Circle NGO Despite years of discussion about addressing poverty wages in the garment sector, progress has been painfully slow. In light of this, civil society organisations have been increasingly calling for legally binding measures to ensure workers are paid a living wage within global supply chains. A coalition of stakeholders, including citizens, civil society organisations, trade unions, and lawyers are now joining forces to bring the first ever European Citizen’s Initiative on Living Wages in the Garment, Textile and Footwear Sector, that will present a clear, united voice to the EU for the urgent change that is required. The Circle is honoured to be part of this movement. This session will explore the legal proposals that the coalition recommends – a package of measures that will work together to raise wages within global supply chains. We will consider how these measures fit alongside current initiatives at the EU and hear reactions from key stakeholders. Please register to attend this session.
Get It Fair “ESG Rating scheme” and Sistema Italia for responsible supply chains
by DILIGENTIA – Association of Italici for Corporate Responsibility and Sustainable Development As organizations, consumers and other stakeholders are increasingly demanding credible ethical claims in the supply chains, ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) risks are becoming increasingly central to sourcing and investment decisions as well as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting disclosure (according to EU Directives). In this changing landscape, creating an integrated framework consisting of standards, accreditations, programs and validation bodies is essential to provide stakeholders with reliable and verified information on the organizations’ ESG risks. This session will present Get It Fair “GIF ESG Rating scheme” (first programme in the world approved by a national body for accreditation purposes according to international standards) integrating ethical label validation, ESG risk rating and Corporate Sustainability Reporting. Speakers will explain, from different perspectives (standardization and accreditation bodies, programme operators and validation bodies, academies and Chambers of Commerce) how the “Sistema Italia” is joining hands to enable brands and manufacturers in the garment and footwear to stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving environment.
12:00
12:00 - 13:30
Circularity and due diligence: exploring the environmental, social, and commercial potential of circular business models
by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) This side session will shed light on the interplay between due diligence and circular business model innovation in diverse organisations, from large brands to SMEs. It will demonstrate how conducting these processes amidst a changing business context enables businesses to continuously identify, and create new ways to deliver environmental, social and commercial gains. Please register to attend this session.
12:15 - 13:15
Measuring progress: accountability and monitoring of purchasing practices
by ACT (Action, Collaboration, Transformation) Accountability and monitoring of the purchasing practices of global textile, garment and footwear brands is essential to the transformation of the industry. This session will cover the ACT Global Purchasing Practices commitments made by ACT brand members addressing the impacts of purchasing practices on manufacturers and workers, and the accountability and monitoring steps that have been taken to improve transparency and the efficacy of these commitments. Please register to attend this session.
13:00
13:00 - 14:00
Responsible digital wage payments
by The Better Than Cash Alliance, BTCA and ILO Global Centre on Digital Wages for Decent Work. This panel will discuss the status of digital wages in the garment and footwear supply chain. It will highlight how responsible digital wage payments can contribute to workers’ empowerment and financial inclusion, and sustainable enterprises. It will also address the challenges and opportunities for responsible transition at scale. The session will include representatives of the BTCA, ILO, workers, employers, and brands. The session will be co-hosted by the BTCA and ILO Global Centre on Digital Wages for Decent Work. Please register to attend this session.
13:00 - 14:15
Untapping the potential of blockchain for responsible and inclusive business models in the garment and footwear sector
by United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) This session will demonstrate how advanced technologies, like blockchain, can enable risk-based due diligence and responsible business models in this industry. It will showcase end-to-end traceability in support of reliable product claims, from origin, to living wages, to climate risk mitigation and adaptation. Together, experts will focus on opportunities to scale-up impactful solutions, while ensuring market access for small-holders and SMEs in developing economies. Please register to attend this session.
14:00
14:00 - 15:00
Responsible supply chains and audit fatigue in the apparel industry
by Istanbul Apparel Exporters Association Today, one of the most important topics of the global apparel industry is responsible supply chains. The change in the sourcing strategy of buyers has affected the supply chains. We are in a new competitive world with new rules. In our side session, we want to discuss both responsible supply chains and audit fatigue problem from the producer perspective. Please register to attend this session.
14:00 - 15:15
Transparency as an instrument of worker voice, wellbeing, and gender inclusion
by Good Business Lab and Nest, Inc. With global discussions of racial justice, economic inclusion, and gender equity driving industry-wide change, worker voice is more important than ever. This multi-stakeholder discussion will address the challenges workers face at multiple levels of the supply chain and will present effective solutions that use transparency, technology, and stronger brand-supplier relationships to improve worker engagement. Please register to attend this session.
15:00
15:00 - 16:00
A new supply chain industrial relations model for the textile and garment industry
by IndustriALL GLobal Union During the Covid19 Pandemic workers bore the brunt of the complete breakdown of the textile and garment supply chain due to the business model of the sector. Order cancellations have driven wholesale closure of thousands of garment factories with millions of workers being laid off without a social safety net and this has highlighted the precariousness of the sector’s business model and the urgent need to establish sustainable models of supply chain industrial relations. The recently negotiated International Accord further validates a new supply chain model of industrial relations one that is centered around binding rules to hold brands accountable for their impact on workers, rather than voluntary initiatives. IndustriALL and its affiliates see this model as one that can be applied to other systemic problems in the supply chain. Please register to attend this session.
15:00 - 16:15
Decent work for all: extending human rights due diligence beyond the first tier
by Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO); Transparentem; Arisa; Mondiaal FNV Buying companies have demonstrated some success at addressing labour rights issues at manufacturers of their end-products. However, there is still an urgent need for improvement in identifying, preventing, mitigating and remediating labour rights risks and violations further up the supply chain. The textile industry of Tamil Nadu, India, serves as a case in point. During this session we will discuss roles and responsibilities of various actors along the supply chain, including agents, buying houses, and financial institutions. Please register to attend this session.
16:00
16:00 - 17:30
Embedding due diligence in the European textile value chain to advance the 2022 policy debate
by EURATEX In 2022, the EU explores legislative options to boost due diligence across all business and value chain – in particular the textiles. National initiatives and on-the ground collaborative efforts offer first hand insights on solutions to facilitate due diligence especially for SMEs. How could we strengthen European sectoral cooperation in embedding due diligence based on the OECD benchmark considering global challenges and tested solutions. Please register to attend this session.
16:00 - 17:00
Transforming the fashion industry with brand accountability
by Garment Worker Center (California-USA), Remake (California-USA) A discussion of the implications of the precedent-setting passage of California’s SB62, The Garment Worker Protection Act, which for the first time holds brands jointly liable for garment worker wage theft in their supply chains. Hear from legal experts and the coalition behind the remarkable worker-led campaign about how the bill might influence state, federal and international law and could raise pay, punish bad actors, and level the playing field for more ethical production. Please register to attend this session.
20:00
20:00 - 20:45
Due diligence and supply chain transparency in the post-COVID world: fashion industry perspectives
by U.S. Fashion Industry Association The session intends to facilitate constructive dialogue regarding the progress, challenges, and opportunities of improving due diligence and building a more transparent apparel supply chain in the Post-COVID world. The session will offer a unique opportunity to discuss: 1) fashion companies’ latest sourcing practices during COVID-19 and their impacts on due diligence; 2) fashion companies’ recent efforts in improving due diligence and supply chain transparency; 3) areas that can be improved to develop a more socially responsible and sustainable fashion supply chain in the post-COVID world. The session will be highly informative and relevant to all stakeholders alongside the fashion supply chain as well as civil society, international organizations, and policymakers. Recording of the session available.

Day

3 : February 23, 2022
15:45
15:45 - 17:45
Promoting Social Dialogue in the Textile, Garment, Shoes and Leather Sector in Morocco
by the Moroccan National Contact Point for Responsible Business Conduct and IndustriALL Global Union IN-PERSON EVENT, Casablanca, Morocco. Available for online viewing - please register to receive the access link to the online streaming. In Morocco, the pandemic and the interruption of the global supply chain imposed challenges to business and workers alike in Textile, Garment, Shoes and Leather sector (TGSL). In this session social partners will address the initiatives and practices in place to overcome the challenges. Further, the discussions will explore the global tools, guidance and initiatives at hand to complement the work of the Moroccan social partners on promoting sustainable social dialogue in the sector beyond the pandemic crisis. This side session takes place during the Moroccan on-site event held on 23-24 February at the Farah Casablanca Hotel 160, Avenue des Forces Armées Royales, 20 200, Casablanca, Morocco. Participants attending the event will follow live streaming of the OECD Forum sessions and have the opportunity to participate in person in this side session. English - Arabic interpretation provided For information, contact: IndustriALL Global Union: MENA@industriALL-Union.org Moroccan NCP for RBC: bensaad@amdie.gov.ma

Day

4 : February 25, 2022
08:00
08:00 - 09:15
Due diligence requirements for post-consumer recycled (PCR) content in garments
by Sympany / FFact If PCR-labelled content is introduced into the market for new garments there must be a global social standard applying for the circular production process. This includes monitoring of the collection and recycling part of post-consumer textile. It is important to describe the due diligence and applying standards in order to inform consumers properly on the social conditions of the total (circular) production of their garments with PCR content. From the perspective of level playing field there is an urgent need for dedicated and harmonized due diligence requirements. Please register to attend this session.
Program Sustainable Textiles Switzerland 2030 (STS 2030)
by amfori and Sustainable Textiles Switzerland (STS) 2030 How a multistakeholder program and public-private partnership pushes business solutions to achieve the SDGs 2030 – especially 8, 12, 13 and 15 – along the whole supply chains.
09:00
09:00 - 11:00
Animal welfare policy guidance for textile companies
by FOUR PAWS International Consumers are increasingly becoming concerned about the treatment of animals who produce their clothing. Progressive textile brands are responding by developing animal welfare policies, statements and guidelines regarding their use of animal derived materials. But what constitutes a good animal welfare policy? What are the animal welfare goals fashion companies should be aiming for? And what are the essential building blocks, and tools needed to make policy objectives a reality and welfare claims substantiated? In this webinar FOUR PAWS will inform participants about developing a good vision and set of goals regarding the use of animals in fashion and how to translate this into meaningful policy. A champion brand will tell us about their journey to source more animal-friendly materials, and speakers will share tools and best practices to implement the policy and make an impact.
09:00 - 10:00
Creating a new balance in buyer-supplier relations: the Common Framework for Responsible Purchasing Practices – an approach to generate shared understanding and guide responsible action
by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Multi-Stakeholder-Initiatives Working Group on Responsible Purchasing Practices and the Sustainable Terms of Trade Initiative (STTI) The panel discussion will focus on how buyer-supplier relationships can move towards a more equal partnership, what companies are doing towards this goal and what opportunities and barriers are seen from both the purchasing and supply perspectives. This is discussed in the context of sharing both the STTI White Paper on Commercial Compliance and the Common Framework for Responsible Purchasing Practices, as contributions towards the shared goal of improving purchasing practices and their impact on working conditions. Developed by the members of a Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives Working Group, the Common Framework is a reference point for companies working to improve their purchasing practices and for Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives supporting their member companies in implementing practical improvements in purchasing, to increase the scope for improved working conditions in supply chains. The working group has included representatives from ETI, Ethical Trade Norway, Fair Wear, the German Partnership for Sustainable Textiles and the Dutch Agreement for Sustainable Garments, and has consulted with ACT, Better Work, Better Buying Institute and amfori. The framework integrates key elements from the recent relevant Whitepaper by the STTI and builds on previously published reports and frameworks from the involved MSIs and others. Please register to attend this session.
09:00 - 10:15
Migrant worker-responsive human rights due diligence
by International Organization for Migration Thailand and Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) While increased vulnerability of migrant workers to labour exploitation continues to be a heightened risk factor to garments supply chains, guidance for companies to adapt their due diligence practices to address the specific risks facing migrants is insufficient. This multi-stakeholder session brings together key stakeholders, from policy makers and supply chain actors, to share their experience on how they implement due diligence measures that are responsive to the needs of migrants, especially women and how innovative technologies can be leveraged effectively. Please register to attend this session. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar
10:00
10:00 - 11:15
Due diligence regarding decent work in the garment sector in Indonesia and Ethiopia
by WageIndicator Foundation The results of two Decent Work projects undertaken by WageIndicator since 2018 prove that working conditions in garment factories in Indonesia and Ethiopia can be improved. Learn how survey outcomes lead to better working conditions and the creation of collective agreements. About the Session The session will be moderated by the coordinator of both projects: Paulien Osse. The two country-based project coordinators will then present their results: Nadia Pralitasari together with Andriko Otang from TURC, and Daniela Ceccon together with Ethiopian team leaders Eyuel Mekonnen and Gashaw Tesfa. Two researchers will deepen the data regarding the garment supply chain and the survey outcomes: Maarten van Klaveren and Kea Tijdens. On the Decent Work Projects Improvements are based on workers’ responses to the face-to-face Decent Work survey. Project teams discuss the outcomes with factory management. Implementation is measured through follow-up surveys and results, such as better working conditions and concluding Collective Bargaining Agreements in factories, are published online, if management agrees. A data academy has been developed to teach workers and trade unionists how to use the data. Please register to attend this session.
Standard Convergence Initiative (SCI) – measuring convergence with the help of ITC’s Standards Map
by International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) and International Apparel Federation (IAF) The SCI in cooperation with the International Trade Center (ITC)s intends to measure if standard holders in the textile supply chain are actually working towards more convergence of their standards. SCI has identified four principles. Along with the help of a selected set of ITC's Standards Map criteria against which convergence of standards can be measured. It is the objective of the SCI to present the first results of this analysis at the side session during the meeting of the OECD Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector in 2022. Please register to attend this session.
11:00
11:00 - 12:30
A chain is as strong as its weakest link: why brands should recognize and support homeworkers
by Homeworkers Worldwide and Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO) Scope is a critical issue for the proposed EU mandatory human rights due diligence Directive and national legislation. Through a short animated video, a Q and A with homeworker leaders and presentations by WIEGO and HomeWorkers Worldwide, this session makes a normative and business case for why homeworkers should be included in EU legislation and introduces a toolkit developed under the EU co-funded Hidden Homeworkers Project for brands to protect homeworkers in their supply chains. Please register to attend this session.
12:00
12:00 - 13:00
The human right to living wages
by BMO Global Asset Management The Platform Living Wage Financials leverages its bespoke methodology to assess investee companies on their approach to promoting living wages for supply chain workers. We will explore the role of investors in undertaking meaningful engagement to improve brand purchasing practices and enhanced due diligence frameworks Please register to attend this session.
13:00
13:00 - 14:00
Accountability from top to bottom: post-COVID access to remedy in the garment and footwear supply chain
by Global Labor Justice International Labor Rights Forum and Asia Floor Wage Alliance (AFWA) This panel will examine the full scope of obligations under the OECD Guidelines for actors from top to bottom of the garment supply chain — from investors to suppliers — and their implications for access to remedy especially for marginalized workers including informal sector workers, caste-oppressed workers, and women workers. We will interrogate what the COVID-19 crisis has exposed anew on these issues, including in the context of national level legislation and recent joint employer litigation in supplier countries.
14:00
14:00 - 15:00
Credible data vs. misinformation: a lesson in responsible data use and fact checking
by Transformers Foundation and Cotton Diaries Fact-checking is a key tool to help fight misinformation and for brands to become critical users of data and claims and accurately assess the interventions needed in their supply chains. This session will discuss: the role of data and fact-checking in fashion’s sustainability discourse, how numbers can be distorted, how to filter misleading versus credible claims, and how to build critical data consumption. This session is informed by our recent Transformers Foundation research paper titled Cotton: A Case Study in Misinformation, which you can download here: https://www.transformersfoundation.org/cotton-report-2021 Please register to attend this session.
14:00 - 15:15
Labor rights in Pakistan’s cotton value chain: harnessing technology to eliminate child and forced labor
by ELEVATE Ltd In response to growing demands by regulators, brands, workers and consumers that their garments not be made with child labor or forced labor, various actors are developing a wide range of approaches to ensure verification. This session will discuss the upcoming testing of a newly tailored protocol and traceability tool for Pakistan’s cotton supply chain that draws from best practices for improved due diligence and scalable platforms.
15:00
15:00 - 16:00
Audit deception in apparel supply chains and the urgent case for reform
by Transparentem Transparentem’s investigations of human rights abuses in apparel supply chains have uncovered evidence of strategies used by employers and recruiters to conceal possible labor rights violations. This session will provide an overview of Transparentem’s findings and recommendations for reforms. Please register to attend this session.
Contracting for human rights: aligning contracts with the UNGPs and OECD Guidance
by Rutgers Center for Corporate Law and Governance Contracts are crucial components of an effective human rights due diligence strategy. This session will discuss the why and the how of aligning international supply contracts with the UNGPs and the OECD Guidance. For more information: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/human_rights/business-human-rights-initiative/contractual-clauses-project/ Please register to attend this session.