International Responsible Business Conduct
Governments, representatives of employers’ associations and unions, consumers, and civil society organisations expect enterprises to transact business in a way that respects human rights and the environment. This concern for international Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) is urgently needed: enterprises can be connected to issues such as child labour or environmental damage, through their own business activities and supply chains. By acting together, companies, governments, trade unions and civil society organisations can promote the creation of sustainable supply chains, for example through international RBC agreements.
Guidelines for enterprises to reduce negative consequences of their actions have been laid down internationally in the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the United Nations’ Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). According to these guidelines, enterprises are expected to identify, prevent, and address the actual and potential adverse impact of their activities and to account for how they deal with the risks they have identified, i.e. to carry out due diligence. In this way, enterprises that operate internationally also contribute to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Complaints and Disputes Committees
Complaints and Disputes Committee TruStone Initiative
Complaints and Disputes Committee Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile
International garments and textile sector
The SER facilitates the process to explore the possibilities of a next generation agreement for international responsible business conduct in the garments and textile sector. Business, trade unions and NGOs jointly seek to drive leadership on responsible business conduct due diligence, aligned with the OECD Guidelines and the UNGPs on business and human rights.
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