Chain Responsibility
Chain Responsibility News
Lack of transparency on origins of coal leaves Dutch in the dark
24-01-2012
Despite earlier promises, electricity companies continue to withhold important information about the origin of the coal they use. As a result, it is likely that coal imported into the Netherlands comes from mines where abuses of human rights and the environment are taking place. This is one of the conclusions of The Black Box: Obscurity and Transparency in the Dutch Coal Supply Chain, a report published today by SOMO in collaboration with Greenpeace. SOMO and Greenpeace call on the electricity companies to be transparent about the coal supply chain and guarantee consumers that no coal is used from mines where human rights and the environment are threatened.
Minister Bleeker answers questions from parliament and pledges support to makeITfair
27-07-2011
In honour of International Action Day “Time to bite into a fair Apple – Call for sustainable IT” on 7 May, organised by makeITfair and GoodElectronics, Dutch political parties ChristenUnie (orthodox Christian party) en GroenLinks (left wing greens) asked questions in parliament to Minister Bleeker of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation.
Long but hopeful path towards legislation on conflict minerals
24-06-2011
On 26 May, SOMO organised a Roundtable in the European Parliament, together with Judith Sargentini (Member of European Parliament, GroenLinks). This well attended meeting focused on conflict minerals from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This Roundtable focused on two objectives: urging the European commission to develop legislation in the matter, and offering a platform for Congolese NGOs. The meeting was a success, but the road to actual legislation is still a long one. But doing nothing is not an option, according to Judith Sargentini.
SOMO contribution to the Lower House hearing on the origin of coal for power stations
22-11-2010
During a hearing in the Lower House on 18 November 2010, SOMO argued in favour of a structural solution (regulations) for the lack of chain responsibility and transparency among the energy companies operating in the Netherlands. As one of the experts to be heard, SOMO gave its vision on the origin of the coal used by the energy companies in question, based on new study on Sustainability in the Power Sector (Europe, Belgium and the Netherlands). The report on this will be published shortly.
Dutch media focuses on abuses in the Indian textile sector
16-09-2010
Indian textile workers make clothing in harrowing conditions for clothing chain stores such as C&A and H&M. The workers are barely permitted to leave the factory site, are paid more than a quarter of their wages only after three years, and there are no trade unions. These findings were published by the Dutch newspaper Volkskrant in early September, after a visit, together with SOMO, to the textile factory KPR Mill. Other Dutch and Belgian newspapers, television and radio also showed interest in the story. Dutch political parties submitted written questions about this issue in Parliament. H&M and C&A both responded in the press.
CSR and European Works Councils
08-06-2010
As energy companies are increasingly operating across national borders, consultation forms such as employee participation are also taking on increasingly international forms. One example of this is the European Works Councils (EWCs). At the same time, attention is increasingly being paid to sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility in the European energy sector. SOMO was commissioned by the European Public Services Union (EPSU) to carry out research into the potential role and ambition of the EWCs in formulating and implementing CSR policy. SOMO also issued recommendations to EWC members and trade unions in order to increase their influence on the social and ecological policy of the enterprise.
OECD Guidelines as possibility to increase supply chain transparency
29-04-2009
The Dutch government doubts that a law on the International Consumer Right To Know will lead to more sustainability. However, the OECD Guidelines for MNEs are specifically mentioned as possibility for consumers to request information from companies. How this works out in practice is not elaborated upon.
