The Federal government wants to know from the 1800’s German companies, the extent of production abroad human rights. Mandatory participation, however, is not. The economy feels to be reviled.
Just in the textile industry in Southeast Asia, the working conditions are not always human rights-compliant
The Foreign office launched a written survey to be completed by the beginning of October. A representative spoke of a “strong” invitation to take part, ultimately, it is but voluntary. The appropriate companies were selected according to certain conditions, by a random generator.
“Germany and the German economy in particular benefit from globalization,” said foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) prior to the Start of the survey. “That’s why we also have a special responsibility to protect the rights of the people who work in our global supply and value chains.”
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How is Fairness in the global production process?
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How is Fairness in the global production process?
You will be asked, among other things, whether the companies have in their operating guidelines on a Declaration of principles on human rights, or whether there is a mechanism that can be used by the Affected in case of complaints.
Background of the criticism of child labour and starvation wages, at the beginning of supply chains in developing countries, for example in the textile factories of Bangladesh. The Federal government had decided in 2016, a National plan of action with the goal that in 2020 at least half of all companies in Germany meet with more than 500 employees-proven to the core elements of human rights due diligence. The survey is a Central point of this action plan.
The economy, the questions go too far
From the economic criticism comes to mind. “The whole process is messed up from the beginning. In the meantime, the company will also answer questions that have nothing to do with the in the National action plan formulated requirements,” said Uwe Mazura, Director General of the General Confederation of the German textile and fashion industry, the German press Agency. “It can’t be that we are represented as the German industry with the world’s highest environmental and social standards again and again, as if the human rights would not matter to us. The opposite is the case.”
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Children’s work is declining, but too slowlyAlmost every tenth child’s children’s worker
According to Unicef, need to work with still 152 million children in the world, to the Survival of their families. Most of them live in Africa and Asia. Overall, the child labour has declined worldwide In the year 2000, 246 million children were affected, but the decline is slowing.
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Children’s work is declining, but too slowlyWhat is child labour?
Unicef defines child labour as “activities for the children too young or are dangerous or exploitative, which are damaging to the mental development or the children from attending school to hold”. It says So in the UN-Convention on children’s rights.
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Children’s work is declining, but too slowlyIncrease in sub-Saharan Africa
Particularly significantly, the number of child labourers in the Asia and Pacific Region declined, also in Latin America it decreases. In sub-Saharan Africa, child labour seems to have in recent years increased. As a reason the UN calls the children to the sluggish economic development, as well as a growing number of armed conflicts and natural disasters.
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Children’s work is declining, but too slowlyWork on the run
An increase of child labour, there are also refugees. The longer it takes to escape, the greater the likelihood that the children must work. Because their families have lost on the run most of everything and must look for new Ways to survive.
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Children’s work is declining, but too slowlyHard Work
An example: in 2017, fled, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya from persecution and exclusion from Myanmar to Bangladesh and lives since then in shelters. There, the children have to support their families – with some physically strenuous work.
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Children’s work is declining, but too slowlySewing instead of Learning
Many Syrian refugee children have to work, like this Boy in a textile factory in Turkey. Many Syrian children work more than ten hours of the day. Unicef wants to proceed with education programs in areas of conflict and against refugee children work.
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Children’s work is declining, but too slowlyWhat is the work done against children?
To end child labour in principle, see auxiliary organizations, especially the governments on the train: you would need to enforce compulsory education and the minimum age for admission to work legally at the end of the compulsory education equalize. National Supervisory authorities would be strengthened and employers who exploit children will be punished and calls such as “terre des hommes”.
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Children’s work is declining, but too slowlyEducation as a key
“In order to protect children from exploitation, need to change the living conditions of the children affected”, said Christian Schneider, managing Director of Unicef Germany. Unicef therefore calls for more investment in education and health and social security systems.
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Children’s work is declining, but too slowlyCauses of child labour, fight stronger
The decline of child labour continues at the current pace, will be affected, according to estimates from Unicef in the year 2025 will still have 121 million girls and boys from child labour. Thus, the UN-issued objective of the effective abolition of child labour, and up to 2025 in the distant future.
Even when many of the German companies themselves undertake to comply with human rights Standards, this is often not for their subcontractors and suppliers. At the beginning of July the organization had Oxfam German supermarket chains accused of “suffering, exploitation, and discrimination” in their supply chains continue to be on the agenda.
In the spring of 2020, the survey should be repeated and then a final report with the results published. On the basis of which it will be decided whether and what further legal measures are necessary to ensure compliance with certain people to enforce legal standards in the economy.
ust/uh (dpa, afp, epd, auswaertiges-amt.de)