Background

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For decades, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitments from international brands had at best mixed results on the ground. Recent and incoming supply chain due diligence laws have in some cases, already exposed businesses with global supply chains to risks and liabilities for violations occurring on the supplier side. Through practical experience, China Labour Bulletin and its partners in China and India have developed a prototype solution.

 

Global supply chains challenge traditional notions of labour relations and collective bargaining; it is no longer realistic to let workers and suppliers of international brands resolve potential disputes by themselves. A more realistic working model requires the meaningful participation of international brands in the dialogue to ensure sufficient transparency and pave the path towards a more sustainable business model in which all main stakeholders can negotiate as equal partners.

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Collective bargaining doesn't need reinventing. It only needs to add one more chair at the table.

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About the session

 

China Labour Bulletin has decades of practical experience training labour organisations and worker representatives in China. Since 2016, it has taken this experience to the ground in India with encouraging results. In this training session, China Labour Bulletin executive director Han Dongfang will share a package of immediately actionable solutions with responsible businesses seeking to prevent legal liabilities in their supply chains. Through meaningful dialogue to address issues at the root before they escalate into conflict, workers, manufacturers and international brands can reach agreements and move towards a sustainable win-win-win business model.

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Objectives

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The main objectives of this session are to:

• Rethink labour relations and collective bargaining in the context of global supply chains.

• Redefine main stakeholder responsibilities and roles.

• Provide an action plan to international businesses exposed to increased supply chain risks and liabilities.

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Key questions

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Panelists will reflect on the following questions:

• What is the impact of existing and incoming legislation like the Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CSDDD) on international brands?

• What is the role of international brands in determining labour conditions in their supply chains?

• What are the biggest challenges to traditional notions of labour relations, particularly workplace collective bargaining?

• How can international brands work together with their suppliers and the workers producing for them to find a sustainable solution to their shared challenges?

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Session organizer

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