More Than 220 Trade Unions and NGOs Worldwide Call on European Union to Hold Brands Accountable

May 12, 2022: On 23 February 2022, the European Commission released its proposal for a directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence. This directive could mark a gigantic step forward in minimizing the negative impacts of businesses on workers, communities and the environment worldwide. In response, more than 220 trade unions and civil society organisations worldwide have welcomed the proposal as a long-awaited step toward corporate accountability, but call for the proposal to be strengthened to end corporate harm to human rights, the environment and climate.

In their response, human rights, labour, and environmental organisations and networks state that the proposal contains significant flaws that risk preventing the directive from achieving the positive impact that people, planet, and climate urgently need. The signatories call on the European Parliament and European Union Member States to strengthen the text to match what EU citizens, workers and communities affected by corporate abuses globally have vocally and publicly demanded.

The joint statement outlines our collective views on how to improve the proposal to guarantee that the law will be effective in preventing corporate harm to human rights, the environment and climate; as well as provide victims of corporate abuse with access to effective remedies.