EU legislators push for new mandatory legislation for the clothing industry.
The European Union's legislative bodies are pushing for new mandatory legislation for the garment industry. On May 19, 2017, the Council of the European Union published "Conclusions on Sustainable Garment Value Chains," aiming to prevent human rights violations and encourage companies to take socially responsible actions to ensure the garment industry complies with international standards concerning labor rights and environmental protection. Furthermore, the Council encouraged the European Commission to temporarily suspend preferential trade treatment for trading partners who violate labor and human rights commitments. The Council further requested the Commission to improve traceability in the textile industry, emphasizing the need to track chemicals used in the garment manufacturing process and worker exposure to toxic substances. The Council reached these conclusions after the Commission published an approved working paper on April 24, 2017. In the working paper, the Commission proposed several EU measures on "establishing sustainable value chains in the garment industry through EU development actions." The working paper outlines various measures to achieve a fairer, safer, and more environmentally friendly garment manufacturing industry. The European Commission's recommendations focus on: 1. Economic empowerment for women; 2. Reasonable wages for work and living; and 3. Transparency and traceability in value chains. The third point is of particular concern because production chains are highly decentralized, often outsourcing different stages of the manufacturing process to companies in distant countries. Following the approval of the European Commission's working paper, Europe...