Fair Wear discusses formula with Dutch minister in Paris

FWF’s Ruth Vermeulen met with the Dutch minister Lilianne Ploumen in Paris on Monday. They discussed the Fair Wear Foundation formula, due diligence issues and some of the dilemmas FWF is facing.

The minister of Foreign Trade participated in a stakeholder meeting at the invitation of her French colleague Nicole Bricq. Both ministers want to get corporate social responsibility higher up the agenda of national governments. They discussed the French NCP report on implementation of the OECD guidelines in the textile and clothing sector, together with companies and NGO’s from France and The Netherlands.

Prior to the meeting, FWF’s Ruth and other Dutch invitees enjoyed a lunch with the minister. They discussed the similarities between the report and the FWF formula concerning auditing of factories and due diligence. Ruth explained in what way FWF also helps buyers of brands to support good workplace conditions. She also touched on the difficulties of implementing living wages as described in FWF’s latest report on this issue.