This Manufacturers Network meeting is open to manufacturers associations. This network was set up in 2019 to provide a safe discussion space for manufacturers to share experiences, build a common understanding of due diligence topics, and bring a shared voice to the broader discussions at the OECD forum.

by ITC-UNECE Review of progress made under European Union DEVCO programme on Transparency and Traceability implemented by the United Nations ITC & UNECE and partners. Tools, methodologies, practical lessons learned from 2020 to emerge stronger from COVID-19 crisis and enhance decent work in the garment sector. Please register in advance to this side session: https://bit.ly/3oFdtxv

by Together for Decent Leather Consortium Together for Decent Leather is a 3-year programme run by an Asian-European NGO consortium aiming to bring about improvements in working conditions of vulnerable workers in the supply chain of leather-based garments.  This session will  explore the causes and consequences of precarious and insecure work and the particular challenges faced by vulnerable groups of workers in this particular sub-sector of the garment industry, and to discuss ways forward. For more information on this session, please visit our website: https://togetherfordecentleather.org/session-on-vulnerable-workers-in-the-leather-based-garment-industry-at-the-oecd-forum/

This Roundtable is open to policy-makers and inter-governmental organisations.

by ILO’s Child Labour Platform and The Centre for Child Rights and Business COVID-19 may reverse years of progress against child labour, including in the garment industry and supply chain. To support effective due diligence against child labour in the industry, the ILO’s Child Labour Platform and the Centre for Child Rights and Business will launch Supplier Guidance on Child Labour for the Garment Industry. Join us to learn more about the challenge, receive an advance copy of the Guidance and learn how it can help identify, prevent and remediate child labour. To Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/99395472462 Meeting ID: 993 9547 2462 Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/abQhFuS4C3

by Platform Living Wage Financials (PLWF) Payment of living wages can play a pivotal role in building resilient supply chains and contribute to substantially reduce the pressure on garment workers. During the session the Platform Living Wage Financials (PLWF) will explain how they leverage their influence as investors to accelerate the payment of living wages in the industry through their meaningful engagement and assessment efforts. For more information on this session, please visit our website: https://www.livingwage.nl/uncategorized/due-diligence-in-the-garment-and-footwear-sector/

By Strategic Partnership for Garment Supply Chain Transformation and Cornell University New Conversations Project (NCP) The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented test for industrial relations systems in garment-producing countries and an existential threat to many factories and workers in the industry as a whole. This crisis has proven to be the ultimate “stress test” on social dialogue systems globally. In this session the New Conversations Project and the Strategic Partnership for Garment Supply Chain Transformation will share the results of research done in ten garment producing countries on the impact of social dialogue on Covid-19 responses and aim to answer the question: Does social dialogue work as a way to cope with COVID? Please register in advance to this side session: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZItcOmurjgsHdFQ9TEdQor_2vnJY9_JGLpq Session available on replay here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_i692tGHxZg&feature=youtu.be

by amfori More textile companies now consider switching from plastics and animal-based products to plant-based products. As a result, over 150 million trees are logged annually to make cellulose for clothing. To avoid that this shift drives more deforestation, how can due diligence processes make sure that plant-based materials are sustainably sourced? Please register in advance to this side session: https://www.amfori.org/event/webinar-shift-plant-based-materials-textile-sustainable-solution-forests Watch session on replay here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/4104894034138396168

Partners: GIZ and ILO The pandemic has exposed longstanding weaknesses in the garment sector and shown us that if the recovery is going to be both fair and sustainable, new partnerships and forms of collaboration will be required. Solutions to complex challenges don’t always need new knowledge but rather a renewed vision for sharing experiences, models and good practices. This session will discuss examples and opportunities for improved knowledge sharing emerging from the pandemic in Asia. Background note: https://mneguidelines.oecd.org/Session-note-2021-OECD-Garment-Forum-How-knowledge-sharing-and-digital-exchange-can-drive-a-sustainable-recovery-in-the-Asian-garment-sector.pdf

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the fragility of garment sector value chains with devastating impacts on workers. This opening session will explore the role of social dialogue in jointly prioritising the most significant impacts, and establishing necessary information flows, transparency and accountability. A panel will discuss lessons from this crisis for establishing a new level playing field for due diligence in the sector.

This session will provide the opportunity to consider challenges and ways forward in monitoring implementation of the due diligence guidance, drawing from the OECD Feasibility Study on Measuring the Uptake and Impact of Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Supply Chain (launched today). Report available here: https://mneguidelines.oecd.org/OECD-feasibility-study.pdf Highlights document here: https://mneguidelines.oecd.org/OECD-feasibility-study-highlights.pdf

Partners: amfori, Better Buying Institute, Fair Wear Foundation, Ethical Trading Initiative, Partnership for Sustainable Textiles A key lesson from the COVID-19 crisis is that effective collaboration between brands and suppliers are pivotal to protect workers. This session will provide perspectives from the different actors involved so as to identify the roadblocks that prevent strong buyer-supplier partnerships based on Responsible Purchasing Practices; discuss lessons learnt about supplier-buyer relationships during Covid-19 pandemic, with regard to Responsible Purchasing Practices; and promote a shared understanding between different types of buyers, suppliers and other stakeholders engaged in developing partnerships that are aligned with Responsible Purchasing Practices. Background note: https://mneguidelines.oecd.org/Partner-led-session-2021-OECD-Garment-Forum-Scaling-responsible-purchasing-practices-through-effective-supply-chain-partnerships.pdf

Partner: ACT Processes to enable remedy are a core aspect of OECD due diligence guidance. Effective dispute resolution mechanisms are a win-win for workers and employers: they provide avenues to remedy for workers and stability for industry. And yet, grievance or dispute resolution mechanisms are still fairly weak in global value chains. This technical session will look at learnings from two different types of supply chain grievance mechanisms. It will explore how grievance mechanisms can be designed by affected parties and the role of global brands in using joint leverage to monitor outcomes amongst other key questions in reaching OECD effectiveness criteria. Background note: https://mneguidelines.oecd.org/Partner-led-session-2021-OECD-Garment-Forum-Getting-to-remedy-negotiating-grievance-mechanisms.pdf

OECD and UN Climate Change This session will hear from climate experts and businesses collaborating on a sector-wide roadmap to decarbonisation, exploring its implications for collective and individual company due diligence. Background note: https://mneguidelines.oecd.org/Partner-led-session-2021-OECD-Garment-Forum-Decarbonising-the-garment-and-footwear-sector.pdf

This session will take stock of emerging and existing digital tools and approaches to increase transparency on upstream risks linked to key garment commodities, such as cotton, and discuss barriers to scaling solutions and interlinkages

Partners: World Wide Fund and UN Environment Programme This session will showcase examples of actions already implemented to enhance the textile sector’s sustainability during the COVID-19 crisis, as well as the measures still needed to ensure long-term ’green recovery’. The session will also highlight major barriers to transforming business practices, and discuss priority next steps - linking actions to the upcoming UNEP roadmap for a sustainable and circular textiles industry and emphasizing the role of due diligence as a key tool for delivery. Background note: https://mneguidelines.oecd.org/Partner-led-session-2021-OECD-Garment-Forum-Reshaping-the-textile-sector-with-focus-on-sustainability.pdf

OECD in collaboration with ILO - Responsible Supply Chains in Asia Programme This session will be simultaneously translated in Chinese: After clicking play, you can select your desired language by clicking on the "information" button which is on the toolbar at the bottom left corner of the video. As businesses are thinking through ways to enhance their ability to anticipate and respond to shocks and uncertainties, responsible business conduct (RBC) considerations are becoming increasingly central to sourcing and investment decisions. Likewise, policymakers have been stepping up their efforts to integrate internationally recognised RBC principles and standards into recovery measures. In this changing landscape, understanding and implementing RBC and international labour standards is becoming essential to attract quality investment and participate in global supply chains. This session will discuss recent trade and global supply chains developments related to RBC in Asia, and explore how implementing RBC and decent work practices can help businesses in the region manage supply chain risks, build resilience and competitiveness while staying ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving environment. Background information: Cambodia’s Garment Sector in Transformation - External Shocks, Political Space and Supplier Consolidation, by Dr. Dennis Arnold and published by CNV Internationaal : https://bit.ly/2YHABA7 Amfori’s survey on Maintaining Sustainable Supply Chains During COVID-19 : http://bit.ly/3oNYEIa

An increasing number of governments are developing legislation making social and environmental supply chain due diligence mandatory. The development of such legislation has gained support and traction across a wide range of stakeholders, including businesses, however there are different perspectives on what such legislation should consist of, and how it can be tailored in a smart way respond to the specific supply chain structures and sector risks of the garment & footwear sector. A panel of diverse voices will explore a number of pivotal issues in the development of effective legislation for the sector. Background note: https://mneguidelines.oecd.org/Session-note-2021-OECD-Garment-Forum-Mandatory-due-diligence-legislation-design-perspectives-from-the-garment-and-footwear-sector.pdf

The session will present findings from an OECD paper on SME due diligence (launched today for consultation) and a multi-stakeholder panel will present SME due diligence practices successfully implemented and give their perspective on recent regulatory developments. Read the report: https://mneguidelines.oecd.org/Introductory-paper-on-smes-and-responsible-business-conduct-in-the-garment-and-footwear-sector.pdf See the highlights: https://mneguidelines.oecd.org/Highlights-introductory-paper-on-smes-and-responsible-business-conduct.pdf Provide written comments to julia.DELVALLE@oecd.org by 28 February. Forum session background note: https://mneguidelines.oecd.org/Session-note-2021-OECD-Garment-Forum-SME-tailored-due-diligence.pdf

Partner: Clean Clothes Campaign As the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting the livelihoods of millions, social protection systems in garment-producing countries are unable to make up fully for the revenue losses faced by garment workers. In this session, panelists will exchange on the roles and responsibilities of all actors in the strengthening of social protection systems and how novel collaborative financing and governance mechanisms could support their development. Background note: https://mneguidelines.oecd.org/Partner-led-session-2021-OECD-Garment-Forum-Lessons-of-a-pandemic-what-is-needed-to-support-garment-workers-and-strengthen-social-protection-systems.pdf

In 2018 the OECD launched a pilot to assess the alignment of industry and multi-stakeholder initiatives in the garment and footwear sector with the OECD Guidance. With three assessments completed and one under way, this session provides an opportunity to take stock and consider how governments can build off these assessments to meet their own policy goals on responsible business conduct. Find the OECD's alignment assessments in the garment & footwear sector here: http://mneguidelines.oecd.org/alignment-assessment-garment-footwear.htm

Partners: Open Apparel Registry and Clean Clothes Campaign This session will discuss which data formats are the best to use in sharing data for the purpose of meaningful transparency, risk identification and mitigation as part of a company’s due diligence. Background note: https://mneguidelines.oecd.org/Partner-led-session-2021-OECD-Garment-Forum-Data-for-due-diligence.pdf

The OECD report “Integrating Responsible Business Conduct in Public Procurement” finds that many public buyers face challenges in integrating RBC objectives in procurement. As part of an RBC and Public Procurement programme, started in 2020, the OECD will run a pilot to support public buyers in understanding and integrating OECD risk-based due diligence in garment and textiles. Lessons from the OECD Garment sector work with the private sector, unions and civil society will help shape the pilot project. Background note: https://mneguidelines.oecd.org/Session-note-2021-OECD-Garment-Forum-Due-Diligence-in-the-Public-Procurement.pdf

This session will provide an opportunity to have a dynamic discussion on current RBC issues and practices within the region. The new Spanish language version of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains in the Garment and Footwear sector will also be launched as part of this session, which will take place in Spanish. Esta sesión brindará la oportunidad de tener un debate dinámico sobre cuestiones y practicas actuales de conducta empresarial responsable en la región. En el marco de esta sesión, también se inaugurará la versión española de la Guía de la OCDE sobre la debida diligencia para las cadenas de suministro responsables en el sector de la confección y el calzado. Esta sesión se desarrollará en español.

by the EU and Better Work The European Union and Better Work are partnering toward more resilient, responsible and sustainable global garment value chain. The event highlights our work from the factory-level to the policy-level and how it translates to positive impacts on workers in the global industry. Please register in advance for this side event: https://betterwork.org/eu-betterwork-partnership-event/.

by International Apparel Federation (IAF) and International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) in collaboration with International Trade Centre (ITC) The ITMF and the IAF have started the Standard Convergence Initiative (SCI). The SCI collaborates with ITC to create transparency in the conduct of the main standard holders, measuring to what extent they contribute to the reduction of audit and standard fatigue, using four criteria the SCI has developed. Please register to that session in advance on www.standard-convergence-initiative.org