Fair Wear welcomes the joint declaration regarding living wage and a living income

On 27 January 2021, the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands and the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany signed a joint declaration regarding living wage and living income.

The joint declaration strengthens the collaboration of the ministers on this topic. Fair Wear – together with Fairtrade Netherlands, FNV, CNV, Solidaridad, Rainforest Alliance, Fairfood, IDH and Save the Children – welcomes the leadership shown by Minister Kaag and Minister Müller in this area. The signatories also underline the importance of a living wage as a human right, the need for sustainable supply chains, the importance of social dialogue and the empowerment of workers to achieve a living wage.

The signatories embrace the push for EU collaboration on the topic of living wages and a living income, but we also encourage the Minister to lead by example. At a national level, and especially within the Dutch national government, further action can be taken, for example by promoting living wages and a living income in its own instruments for responsible business conduct, sustainable trade as well as public procurement.

Read the full letter here.