With a broad coalition of industry organizations, trade unions, civil society organizations, the Dutch government have tabled an agreement to achieve practical improvements in and ensure the sustainability of the international garment and textile supply chain. In fact, they want to address problems such as dangerous working conditions and environmental pollution.

The next steps in this process will be to secure funding of the agreement and have it signed in June by at least 35 companies in the sector, who together represent at least 30 per cent of sales in the Netherlands. The parties to the agreement will then also sign it. The agreement has been drafted under the guidance of the Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands (SER).

According to Lilianne Ploumen, Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, this widely supported agreement, enterprises and civil-society organizations are taking a great step forward in combating malpractices in the garment and textile industry in developing countries.

They will, together endeavour to improve working conditions in these countries and make the manufacturing process more environmentally friendly. This is very good news for all those people who are still working excessively long days in dangerous conditions for very low pay. It’s also good news for the industry as a whole and for the consumer: everyone will be better off as a result.