Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garment and Textile

Parties involved in the negotiations for this agreement Ministry for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Trade Union Federations (FNV and CNV) Industry organisations (Modint, Inretail, VGT) Civil-society organisations like Unicef, Solidaridad etc,

Overarching themes Due dilligence Advice, assesment, monitoring Complaints and disputes It’s necessary for this themes to give open insight about the supply chain of the companies who signed this agreement. This information will be confidential for the AGT Secretariat.

Specific Themes Discrimination and Gender Child labourForced Labour Freedom of association Living wage Safety and health in the workplace Raw materials Water pollution and use of chemicals, water and energy Animal welfare

Expectations The Parties will expect participating enterprises to perform due dilligence and to focus particular attention on the specific themes. This means that, with regard to these themes, they will identify any possible adverse impact, set specific objectives and take measures which are suitable in the light of the insights resulting from their due dilligence process.

Appendix in the agreement There are joint elements in the agreement that make a priority theme But also the goals to reach Expecting measures from individual enterprices Colective projects from Unions or other parties that enterprices can join (FWF, Better Work etc) Arrangements between the Parties about there role, planning and timescale

Small enterprices Special attention for small enterprices to make it possible for them to join the agreement -Adjusted due dilligence -Providing an example letter to put questions to to their suppliers -Organizing workshops on the specific themes and they will seek to join existing initiatives

Policy coherence and the role of goverment

By signing the agreement the Dutch goverment makes the following agreements Place the subject of multi-stakeholder collaboration on the agenda within the EU and promote it. Maximum contribution to ensure that it becomes clear to companies in practical terms what options they have To put the debate about competition and sustainability on the European agenda during the Netherlands Presidency (first half of 2016)

Make agreements with local and/or national government in production countries Embassies will play a role by assisting the signatories of this agreement Promote the agreement as a part of the state duty to protect in countries Organise missions with focus on the subjects/themes covered in this agreement Search for a funding system for this agreement after a few years. Maybe a collective contribution Advantage for companies who take active part in this agreement (government support)

Good example als government by purchasing in a socially responsible way Explore the possibilities to make due dilligence as described in the OESO Guidelines a selection criterion fo purchasing at EU level Seek leeway in the rules to facilitate the collection of textiles The goverment will report this efforts to the steering group as a contribution to the annual report.

Governance, implementation, funding Steering group with five membergroups of two persons (industry organisations, participating enterprices, trade unions, civil- society organisations and Dutch government Independent chair Establish a complaints and disputes mechanism Assisted secretariat AGT with a appointed coordinator by the Steering group

Following the signature of the agreement in principle the parties will have three months in which to find the means to fund the agreement. The agreement will not be signed if no/insufficient funding is available after three months. Best opportunity is a sector- wide levy or collective contribution

First things first June enterprices with a market share of 30 percent in the Netherlands have to sign the declaration After this parties have three months to find the means to fund this agreement. Without this there’s no agreement!

Last words In a speech last week from our responsible Minister Ploumen she marked the following words: By June, I expect to have the 35 companies needed to set the agreement in motion. But if we don’t, then my only option will be to intruduce legislation that requires all brands to carry out due dilligence. Take it or leave it: My aim is to facilitate, but I’m not afraid to regulate.

To be continued.