Managing Director Heiserer criticizes Labor Minister Koch for his planned abstention from the vote on the EU Supply Chain Act | Heiserer: “It’s shameful.”
“The proposal for the EU supply chain law negotiated in December contributes to the security of all Austrians that their prosperity is not based on children and workers exploited in the Global South. There is no discussion about the issues of child labor and inhumane working conditions. It cannot be the case that Austria is renouncing a clear commitment here!
Reinhard Heiserer, managing director of the Austrian development organization Jugend Eine Welt
Vienna (OTS) – “It is shameful that Austria does not make a clear commitment to the basic concerns of the negotiated EU supply chain law and is causing people to shake their heads by adopting a position of abstention.”criticized Reinhard Heiserer, managing director of the Austrian development organization Jugend Eine WeltEconomics Minister Martin Kocher. “The proposal for the EU supply chain law negotiated in December contributes to the security of all Austrians that their prosperity is not based on children and workers exploited in the Global South. There is no discussion about the issues of child labor and inhumane working conditions. It cannot be the case that Austria is renouncing a clear commitment here!”
160 million children worldwide are affected by child labor
The managing director of Jugend Eine Welt points to the fact that, according to ILO estimates, around 160 million children worldwide, i.e. almost one in ten, are affected by child labor. Around half of these children are forced to do the most dangerous forms of child labor, work that poses a real threat to their physical and mental health. “These human rights violations often happen at the beginning of supply chains. The proposal for the EU supply chain law that is ready to be voted on includes more transparency and due diligence obligations for companies. Does it really matter to you that goods and products end up in shops in Austria – and thus in the households of Austrians, i.e. you and me – in which covert, abusive child labor – such as in the coffee harvest – plugged?”, Heiserer appeals to Labor Minister Kocher. “Please reconsider your plan and ensure that 160 million working children are not deprived of their future opportunities by voting “yes” to the EU supply chain law tomorrow!”
Questions & Contact:
Mag. Thomas Zach, MA
Youth One World | Press and public relations
Tel. +4366488632574 | thomas.zach@jugendeinewelt.at