During the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) forum on due diligence in the garment and footwear sector, which took place in Paris from February 19 to 23, prominent experts delved into the potential of legally binding agreements voluntarily adopted by companies and global trade unions. Representatives from various sectors, including brands, manufacturers, trade unions, and government, engaged in robust discussions, sharing insights into their experiences while negotiating and implementing such agreements. Additionally, they examined the role of these agreements in light of impending mandatory due diligence legislation, sparking debates that confronted perspectives from the public and private sectors, and those from employers and unions.
Hannah Koep-Andrieu, who heads the Supply Chain Due Diligence division at the OECD Centre for Responsible Business Conduct, led the discussion on "binding company-union agreements and their role in due diligence”. She underscored the significance of mutual communication between companies and workers regarding potential labour rights impacts. Highlighting the pivotal role of binding agreements in facilitating such communication, she observed that while companies have the option to engage with trade unions without formal agreements, many have chosen to enter into agreements addressing specific risk issues and geographical areas. These agreements include international accords focused on safety and initiatives aimed at ensuring living wages. The expert panel evaluated the effectiveness and scalability of these agreements as instruments for conducting due diligence.