Reduction in bureaucracy
Lief chain law is loosened – relief for companies
Human rights and environmental protection in the supply chains – the rules are changed on these sensitive topics. Employers are disappointed – but human rights representatives are also dissatisfied.
Companies should have to submit less reports on compliance with human rights standards in their supply chains. In the future, violations of due diligence should only be sanctioned in severe cases, as can be seen from a draft law on the supply chain law that the Federal Cabinet in Berlin has decided.
“Double reporting duties” resulting from EU and German legislation would be avoided. The National Service Duty Act seamlessly continues to be resolved by a law that the European supply chain directive will transferred to national law, according to the Federal Social Ministry. Changes are currently being negotiated in the EU.
The supply chain law, which has been in force since 2023, is intended to ensure that certain labor and environmental standards are observed for products that are produced abroad for the German market. Companies had to regularly publish a report on the fulfillment of these duties of care. The defusing now on the way is based on projects from the coalition agreement for reducing bureaucracy.
Criticism of the cabinet decision
The new regulations brought on the way in the cabinet met with criticism of different sides. The general manager of the Federal Association of German Employers’ Associations, Steffen Kampeter, told the German Press Agency: “Instead of abolishing the Supplieres Act as promised several times, it is confirmed in its stress.”
Human rights expert Armin Paasch from the aid organization Misereor, on the other hand, criticized the amendment as “inadmissible regulations under human rights in the protection of human rights in the economy”. The Greens accuse the black and red coalition of a dilution of previous supply chains rules.
BAS sees balanced new regulation
Minister of Labor Bärbel BAS (SPD) emphasized: “With the deletion of the reporting obligation according to the delivery chain duty law, we quickly implement the coalition agreement to further relieve companies.” At the same time, the government does not allow the fight against child and forced labor and protection against work exploitation.
dpa
Source: Stern
