Landmark due diligence legislation agreed in the EU
...This is a great milestone in global efforts to legislate for corporate accountability for harm. This legislation, which we expect to come into force around March 2024, has the potential to improve working conditions for millions of workers globally and to drive better business practice.
Decision-makers have agreed on the inclusion of elements Anti-Slavery International, alongside allies including Justice Is Everybody’s Business, advocated strongly for, such as:
- A more meaningful due diligence duty...
- An article on stakeholder engagement...
- Purchasing practices...
- Civil liability for companies...
- Access to justice measures...
The legislation has the potential to improve working conditions for millions of workers globally and to drive better business practices. And we commend those who fought to keep workers at the core of negotiations.
However, some important battles were lost along the way. In particular, a disappointingly low number of companies will be required to comply with the law, and the financial sector has been exempted from having to carry out the due diligence. And crucially, we are disappointed to see that the burden of proof will rest with victims, meaning that victims – often under-resourced – rather than multinational companies, will have to prove their case in courts.
It’s important that the voices of workers in producer countries and their affected communities were part of the advocacy for this law, which is why Anti-Slavery International pushed to make this happen. This information is crucial to making sure the law is effective and that it works for those who stand to benefit from it most. Anti-Slavery International is part of the Global Network Against Forced Labour (NForce), which brings together the perspectives of various civil society organisations from countries around the world that have strong trade relations with the EU...