EU Supply Chain Act – Leichtfried: Black and blue united against child protection, employee rights and fairness for SMEs

2024-02-15 16:36:05

Criticism of the “Green Party’s collapse”

Vienna (OTS/SK) – “When it comes to child protection, employee rights and fairness for local small and medium-sized businesses, black and blue are once again in agreement. Today, the SPÖ submitted a motion in the EU subcommittee that should bind the government – in particular the responsible economics minister Kocher – to agree to the EU supply chain law in a vote at EU level. The ÖVP and FPÖ blocked this, and the Greens also fell against their position,” criticizes SPÖ European spokesman Jörg Leichtfried. The Supply Chain Act is intended to hold large companies responsible if they profit from child labor or forced labor outside the EU. The fact that negotiations at the EU level are currently postponed is due to the FDP blockade in Germany, but also to the Austrian government, which has refused its consent. ****

“With this law, the EU is taking an enormously important step against child labor, the exploitation of workers and environmental destruction worldwide. And in Austria, Black and Blue are against the supply chain law, they are on the side of the corporations instead of the people,” criticizes Leichtfried.

There are also allegations that the supply chain law would be a burden for domestic companies. 99.6 percent of Austrian companies are SMEs, which are not covered by this. Conversely, the blockage of the EU supply chain law primarily plays into the hands of those corporations that make cheap profits from child labor, forced labor or environmentally harmful production. “Thousands of small and medium-sized companies in Austria that already operate in a socially and ecologically sustainable manner would benefit from a supply chain law,” said Leichtfried.

It is absolutely disappointing that the Greens also voted against it in the committee today. Leichtfried: “The Greens have once again capitulated to the ÖVP.” (Conclusion) ah/ls