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2021-2022 Trócaire Annual Report
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Sweatshops, deforestation, child labour. We have an historic opportunity to stop these and other abuses by big business across the globe.
The European Union is creating a new law that could force companies to clean up their supply chains and allow victims of abuse to take companies to court in Europe.
But not everyone is in favour of this law.
If the corporate lobby has its way, the law will be a toothless, ‘tick-box’ exercise. They’ll ensure it’s a weak law, which is worse than no law at all.
But we won’t let that happen.
Right now, EU member states are negotiating the law.
Take action now by emailing Minister of State, Robert Troy, asking him to ensure that Ireland argues in favour of a strong law that actually has teeth.
Just fill in your details and press send. The pre-written email below will be sent to Minister Troy.
Trócaire is a member of the Irish Coalition for Business and Human Rights. For more information on the coalition, and to read case-studies of Irish companies complicit in human rights abuses, click here.
Dear Minister Troy
I am very concerned about the adverse impact corporations are having on the environment, on human rights and on human rights defenders. I therefore urge you to work with your colleagues across the European Union to strengthen the European Commission’s proposed new Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence directive. This directive is an historic opportunity to tackle corporate abuse of people and planet, including sweatshops, deforestation, child labour and other serious harms.
For decades governments have allowed corporations to grow in power and influence, with profits soaring for the few. While at the same time, communities living in areas of great natural wealth have suffered from exploitation and abuse. The legal framework hasn’t kept pace with this rapid globalisation – and corporations are largely allowed to police themselves.
Irish companies and multinationals based here are not immune from this problem. There have been high profile media reports of companies based in Ireland, such as the ESB and Airbnb Ireland, which have been linked to serious human rights violations around the world.
Irish people like myself have become deeply uncomfortable with the idea that the products we buy such as clothes, electronics, and food might be contributing to climate change, environmental damage and are connected to labour rights abuses around the world. A recent IPSOS/MRBI poll showed that 81% of Irish people support stronger laws on corporate abuse.
If done right, the European Commission’s proposed new Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence directive could make a significant contribution towards cleaning up global supply chains and minimising the negative impacts on workers, communities, and the environment.
Communities around the world have been waiting years for these new EU rules. However, the draft rules don’t go far enough, and in its present form the directive contains significant flaws. It’s essential that Ireland steps up to try and strengthen this directive. A weak law that becomes a ‘tickbox exercise’ for companies could be worse than no law.
The three key areas that I would like to see improved:
1. Widen the companies included: at present 99% of businesses will be excluded,
2. Enable justice for victims: barriers to communities being able to take complex and expensive cases against EU companies remain unaddressed,
3. Address dangerous loopholes: companies may be able to avoid court cases through signing contractual clauses with suppliers.
Please can you act to ensure that Ireland takes action to strengthen this directive. As the draft directive is currently being negotiated on at the Council of the European Union, I would urge you to work with your colleagues across the European Union to strengthen this Directive.
Yours sincerely
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