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Article

24 Jan 2025

Author:
By Uni Global Union (Switzerland)

EU: New initiative strengthens trade unions' capacity to use new human rights due diligence laws to protect workers’ rights

“Human rights due diligence: a new tool for trade unions takes shape”

A new initiative to strengthen trade unions’ capacity to protect workers’ rights is taking shape, with UNI Global Union partnering with IndustriALL, German trade union confederation DGB, and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) to establish a Human Rights Due Diligence Competence Centre in 2025. The Centre’s goal is to empower unions to use new human rights due diligence laws to effectively protect workers’ rights.

From voluntary to mandatory corporate responsibility

Building on previously voluntary norms, such as the OECD Guidelines for Multinationals and UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights, human rights due diligence laws in Germany, France and the EU introduce legally binding obligations for large companies to ensure respect for human rights, including workers fundamental rights, throughout their global operations and supply chains. For unions in Asia Pacific, where many global supply chains are based, this represents a significant opportunity to strengthen social dialogue with multinational companies. The laws require companies to engage with stakeholders such as trade unions at both global and local levels, potentially fostering more systematic and meaningful social dialogue on workers’ rights issues.

The forthcoming Competence Centre will bridge the gap between European legislation and global implementation...

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