1. ILO conference ; Turin, September 2017
Contribution of trade unionism to the extension of decent work in the globalized world. Global Framework Agreements Challenges and Opportunities Inditex GFA Trade union experience
Industrial Workers' Commissions International Secretariat
IndustriALL Global Union Coordination for the Implementation of the Global Framework Agreement with INDITEX
ILO conference ; Turin, September 2017

2. ILO conference ; Turin, September 2017
Globalization
World development.
Fifty per cent of the world’s workers work in the production and supply chains of multinational brands.
International legal order.
ILO conference ; Turin, September 2017

3. ILO conference ; Turin, September 2017
Globalization
Major imbalances throughout the world.
Problems and challenges at all levels.
Do not forget that at present:
Seventy-five per cent of the world’s population lacks social protection.
Refugees fleeing to Europe, war in Syria.
Rana Plaza ( )
Progressive breakdown of working conditions around the world.
ILO conference ; Turin, September 2017

4. “Social Responsibility, CSR”
Corporate “reputation”.
European Commission definition: “Impact of corporate activity”.
“Interest Groups”.
Justifiable trade union reluctance:
Marketing
Voluntary nature, Unilaterality
Attempt to remove issues from collective bargaining.
Need for trade union initiative in Supply chains.
We are making progress in this direction: ILO, EU, CSI,…
ILO conference ; Turin, September 2017

5. ILO conference ; Turin, September 2017
A new stage of CSR
Bangladesh “Accord”
Camboya: Minimum Wage “Vital” - ACT
Vietnam: First trade union network of textile suppliers
ILO conference ; Turin, September 2017

6. ILO conference ; Turin, September 2017
Why GFAs, where are we?
Responsibility of branch trade unions.
+ more than 10,000 declarations of CSR. Only 100 GFAs (4 in textile industry).
Decent work guarantee.
ILO conference ; Turin, September 2017

7. ILO conference ; Turin, September 2017
Opportunities of GFAs
Trade union tool.
CSR as a tool.
We must call for decent work in supply chains.
From reporting to coresponsibility.
From action on problems to early intervention.
More power and trade union responsibility, from the parent company and trade unions.
ILO conference ; Turin, September 2017

8. ILO conference ; Turin, September 2017
Challenges of GFAs
How do we want to manage them?
Coordination problems!!
They must be more than a control mechanism; they must form a trade union plan to build an organization with the following aims:
Instrumental and political reinforcement.
Trade union reinforcement for managing the activity.
Reinforcing collective bargaining: business and sectoral agreements.
How do we relate this to day-to-day action?
Mechanisms for conflict resolution, claims and complaints – ILO.
More effective trade union rights:
Knowledge of the entire value chain.
Possible access to workplaces by trade unions throughout the value chain.
Follow-up of audits.
Establishing a working method and action plan.
Trade union training.
ILO conference ; Turin, September 2017

9. ILO conference ; Turin, September 2017
The Inditex production chain
World leader in the sector.
DIRECT:
More than 7000 stores in 88 countries.
Logistics centres and central offices.
More than 152,000 employees.
INDIRECT:
More than 6,300 factories in 45 countries.
1.8 million employees in the supply chain.
ILO conference ; Turin, September 2017

10. Respect for freedom of association and CB
GFA (Inditex) : development
2001: Unilateral code of conduct.
2002: Trade union action in Spain.
2007
2012
2014
2016
Previous Trade union work
GFA signed with ITGLWF.
Protocol
Renewal
Trade union Experts
Respect for freedom of association and CB
Channels of communication established
Knowledge of the supply chain
1 IGU GFA
Selection
Projects in progress
Local trade union access
2012 protocol attached
General Coordinator role created
ILO conference ; Turin, September 2017

11. 2.- Trade union forms of participation 3.- Implementation problems:
Summary of GFA (Inditex)
1.-Development of code of conduct and specifically recognized rights:
2.- Trade union forms of participation
Supply chain information.
Access of local trade unions to suppliers.
Coordination and follow-up.
Implementation of work:
Trade union training
H&S.
1. No forced labour
2. No child labour
3. No discrimination
4. Freedom of association and collective bargaining
5. No harsh or inhumane treatment
Safe and hygienic working conditions
Wages are paid
8. Working hours are not excessive
9. Regular employment
10. Traceability of production
11. Health and Safety of products
12. Environmental awareness
13. Confidentiality of information
14. Code implementation
3.- Implementation problems:
Local trade union rights.
Resources necessary.
ILO conference ; Turin, September 2017

12. Claims or complaints, access to this mechanism.
INFORMATION RECEIVED (worker, trade union, NGO);
REPORTING:
--- TRADE UNION: COMPANY:
To the local trade union To the supplier and factory
Trade union expert (if present), and/or IGU To the Inditex Regional Office (if present).
General Coordinator.
VISIT THE FACTORY AND INVOLVE THE FOLLOWING AT LOCAL LEVEL:
Local trade unions and regional IGU office.
Inditex regional office with suppliers and factory managers.
IF NO RESOLUTION ACHIEVED:
IGU regional office and/or trade union expert will inform the General Coordinator and negotiate directly with Inditex CSR and IGU to resolve the problem.
ILO conference ; Turin, September 2017

13. Any examples of employment infringements in the GFA?
PROBLEMS OF NON-PAYMENT
Jeans Plus (Bangladesh): April 2015.
Bravo (Turkey): Business owners fled, 2017.
Co-Sek (Cambodia): Bankruptcy, 2017
COMPENSATION TO VICTIMS OF STRUCTURAL DISASTERS IN FACTORIES
Spectrum (Bangladesh), April 2005
Shyms (Bangladesh), July 2016
TRADE UNION LEADERS FIRED AND RECOGNITION OF TRADE UNIONS IN FACTORIES
Rich River (Cambodia), February 2007
Topy Top (Peru), June 2007
Roteks Hera (Turkey), January 2012
Cunhal and Alves (Portugal), August 2008
Ashulia (Bangladesh), 2017
6. Morocco, April 2016
ILO conference ; Turin, September 2017

14. ILO conference ; Turin, September 2017
Implementation in 2017
Setting up and training of health and safety committees in:
Portugal (June and September).
Bangladesh (September).
Monitoring of supply chain throughout the world, particularly: Morocco, Portugal, Bulgaria, Tunisia, etc.
Specific activities in:
Vietnam, after setting up a supplier chain trade union network in 2016 (October).
Morocco, setting up a network in the sector.
Turkey, under the supervision of a trade union expert for this country (December).
Continuation of specific work in India (September).
Updating the supplier list (2016).
Progress in improving GFA at all levels (including recruitment of trade union experts in countries where necessary and possible).
ILO conference ; Turin, September 2017