H&M, IndustriALL and IF Metall sign updated GFA

Reflecting on eight years of partnership, this global framework agreement marks a new level of commitment to fundamental rights of workers across H&M Group’s supply chain. It covers more than one million garment workers that are employed at around 1,000 factories run by the manufacturers where H&M Group buys their products.

“With this renewed agreement we continue the important work in the sector of further empowering workers and unions in H&M’s supply chain. The GFA includes significant achievements, like the inclusion of all core ILO conventions, as well as ILO Convention 190 on violence and harassment. Neutrality in union organising is another important element of the agreement. The national monitoring committees, a global steering committee, a joint industrial relations development committee, and importantly a dispute resolution mechanism that is bound by the decision of the independent mediator, provide a solid ground for functional industrial relations needed for a sustainable textile and garment industry,” IndustriALL general secretary Atle Hoie, said on the GFA.

’’We are proud about this long lasting collaboration with IndustriALL and IF Metall to continue empowering workers in our supply chain. Well-functioning industrial relations including collective bargaining are the key to achieving good working conditions and improved wages in our supply chain. This contributes to a more sustainable fashion industry through functioning labour markets in the countries where we source our products from,” H&M Group CEO Daniel Ervér said.

“Through this agreement, we renew the commitment to realise a sustainable garment industry, where workers are organised by trade unions. Now the important part begins, ensuring that we move from policy to practice. We are excited to continue this important partnership,” IF Metall president Marie Nilsson said.

The agreement includes an updated governance structure to ensure effective implementation of the agreement, a commitment to collaborate on due diligence in line with OECD Guidelines and strengthened language on preventing and providing remedy to gender-based violence and harassment. The updates also acknowledge the importance of the industry collaboration we engage in to improve working conditions for everyone, like ACT, the ACCORD, and the RSC and Employment Injury Scheme (EIS) in Bangladesh.

H&M, IndustriALL and IF Metall first signed a Global Framework Agreement in 2015, which was renewed in 2016.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)