Business, trade unions and NGOs have started negotiations on a new agreement to further human rights, international labor rights, the environment and animal welfare in the Dutch garment and textile sector. They are jointly seeking to drive leadership on responsible business conduct aligned with the OECD Guidelines and the UNGPs on business and human rights. The Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands (SER) facilitates the process. They want to help companies implement the due diligence guidelines and facilitate companies from a garment sector perspective based on upcoming legal requirements. The EU will come with a legislative proposal in 2022, and also the Dutch government has committed to drafting due diligence legislation.

The agreement is being designed by the parties to be impactful. The approach focuses on clear, individual and shared commitments to drive collective goals. This gives the sector a common point of reference on how impact can be achieved on known risks in the sector. The agreement aims to set the most impactful goals in the sector. The initial focus is on the national and international players active in the Dutch market, but the process is also open to organisations active in other European countries. It is expected that the new agreement will see the light in the course of early 2022, depending on the commitment of the Dutch government and the integration in the extended producer responsibility system of the sector, among others.