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Complaints and Disputes Committee Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile

Ga naar informatie In het Nederlands over de Klachten- en Geschillencommissie van het Convenant Duurzame Kleding en Textiel.

Disadvantaged people in the international garment and textile supply chains of the signatories of the Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile could file a complaint when their rights were violated. For example, workers at production locations could submit a complaint to the Committee about living wage, child labor or environmental damage. Representatives of employees or other civil society organisations that represent the interests of people, the environment or animals could also do this.

In addition, the Committee focused on resolving any problems (disputes) between companies and the secretariat to the Agreement or between parties to the Agreement.

The Committee had the power to make binding decisions. The decisions of the Committee are public and are published on this page.

Aggrieved parties with a complaint can no longer contact the Complaints and Disputes Committee. They can contact the relevant brand purchasing from the relevant production location (for locations, see the Open Apparel Registry) or the National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines (NCP). The NCP offers the possibility to mediate between parties in the event of a report or problem, with the agreement of the parties involved. See the information about the procedure at the NCP.

Course of action after the Agreement

The parties are expected to abide by a decision of the Complaints and Disputes Committee based on their commitment to the Agreement and their commitment to the Rules of procedure even after the Agreement has ended. If one or more of the parties is culpable in failing to comply with a decision of the Complaints and Disputes Committee, the parties concerned and the parties to the Agreement are free to disclose substantive information about the complaint and their assessment of the failure to comply with the binding decision. However, parties to a complaint are bound to confidentiality regarding all information presented to them in light of the proceedings and which has not been made public throughout the proceedings.

The course of action regarding compliance with decisions of the Complaints and Disputes Committee after the Agreement expired is described in more detail in this memorandum. 

Rulings

• 31 May 2022 | Ruling in the case of SOMO, SKC, R – C&A Nederland

• 17 May 2021 | Ruling in the case of SOMO, SKC, Z – C&A Nederland
• 9 December 2020 | Ruling in the case of Arisa – C&A Nederland
• 22 May 2019 | Ruling in the case of Corn. Van Dijk
• 22 May 2019 | Ruling in the case of Manderley Fashion

Complaints and Disputes Committee

The following members participate in the Complaints and Disputes Committee:

• M. Scheltema (independent chair)
• P. Brust (on behalf of employer organisations)
• H. van der Kolk (on behalf of employee organisations and civil society organisations).

The following substitute members participate in the Complaints and Disputes Committee:

• H. Mulder (independent chair)
• N. Mutsaerts (on behalf of employer organisations)
• G. Oonk (on behalf of employee organisations and civil society organisations)

Contact the secretary of the Committee

mr. S.W. (Sophia) Geelkerken