Ref. Ares(2022)1789387 - 10/03/2022
From:
CAB BRETON CONTACT
To:
FreseniusWatch
Cc:
CAB BRETON CONTACT
Subject:
RE: European trade union federations and ETUC on Sustainable Corporate Governance
Date:
mercredi 13 octobre 2021 11:10:00
Dear Sir,
We hereby confirm receipt of your email.
Kind regards,
Cabinet Thierry Breton
From: FreseniusWatch <xxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx> 
Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2021 10:24 AM
To: CAB BRETON CONTACT <xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xx.xxxxxx.xx>
Subject: European trade union federations and ETUC on Sustainable Corporate
Governance
Dear Mr. Breton,
We very much welcomed the exchange with your cabinet on the 30th September. We, a
group of European trade union federations – EFFAT, EPSU, UNI Europa, IndustriALL
Europe – as well as ETUC, had the chance to present the trade unions’ concerns
regarding the announced initiatives in Sustainable Corporate Governance and mandatory
Human Rights Due Diligence.
Following on from this conversation, we would like to outline our main demands once
again. Unions collectively call for a European directive to establish mandatory,
comprehensive, and effective human rights. Companies such as the German health care
corporation, Fresenius and the American fast food giant McDonald’s demonstrate daily
the urgent need for meaningful requirements and standards. A few examples therefore
are Fresenius’ practices on corruption, union busting and violations of workers’ rights as
well as McDonald’s systematic violation of human rights, health, safety, and
environmental standards.
We are collectively calling for:
- A binding EU law including strong enforcement. In case of violations effective
remedies should be available for victims, including clients, communities,
workers, trade unions and other interested third parties. The directive should
establish proportionate, effective and dissuasive sanctions for any violations by
companies of their obligations including the exclusion from public procurement
and public funding.
- The inclusion of trade unions at the national and international level in every step of
the due diligence process. The directive shall fully recognize the role of workers,
trade union and workers' representatives as central actors in companies. Social
partners should be involved in the initiative.
- The recognition of the importance of the fundamental rights to freedom of
association, collective bargaining and collective action, including strike action.
- The inclusion of fair taxations principles. The directive shall prevent the
implementation of global supply chains based on tax avoidance, aggressive tax
planning.
- The inclusion of subsidiaries and a broad definition of franchises. The scope of due
diligence should not be limited to the parent company's subsidiaries and
subcontractors but should also apply to franchise networks.

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The points mentioned above demonstrate that Europe cannot wait any longer to
establish necessary measures to ensure human, trade. Union and workers’ rights and
further delaying the initiative is unacceptable.
Of course, we are always at your disposal for further exchange or questions.
Best regards,
 (ETUC), 
 (EPSU), 
 (EFFAT), 
(industriALL Europe) and 
 (UNI Europa)
……………………………………………
 the Fresenius Global Union Alliance
xxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Twitter: @FreseniusWatch
https://twitter.com/FreseniusWatch
Identification number in the EU transparency register: 378757041189-09

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