Lafarge

The GFA with leading French building material multinational, Lafarge, is co-signed with another global union federation, the Building and Woodworkers’ International (BWI).

The agreement binds Lafarge to respect the following core principles throughout its operations:

EADS

The agreement with EADS recognizes the right to freedom of association and the right to bargain collectively. The ILO core labour standards referred to in the agreement include the provisions relating to no use of forced or child labour, the right to equal opportunities and the need to refrain from discrimination. EADS also agrees to promote lifelong continuing training and to protect health and safety in the work place.

The agreement expects EADS suppliers will recognize and apply the same principles of this framework agreement and encourages them to introduce and implement equivalent practices in their own companies.

The agreement was first reached with the European Works Council of EADS at the end of June and was co-signed by ex-IMF President Jürgen Peters and ex-IMF General Secretary Marcello Malentacchi in the first week of July.

Indesit

Indesit is a large producer of domestic appliances, with subsidiaries across the globe. The GFA commits the company to comply with and promote the fundamental principles and rights at work established in conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

To supervise compliance with the Code, the agreement provides for the establishment of monitoring not only of the company's own production units and activities, but its suppliers as well, which risk having their contracts cancelled in cases of grave violations.

The company must report on the implementation and status of the agreement at the annual meeting of the European Works Council (EWC) and at the national information meeting provided for by the national collective contract. For countries which are not members of the EWC, representatives of the workers and trade unions at individual plants must receive this information from the local management.

GEA

The agreement acknowledges the company’s social responsibility, its support of and compliance with "internationally accepted human rights", and the basic right of all employees to establish and join unions and employee representations.

Amongst other items, the GFA stipulates that ILO Conventions No. 87 (Freedom of Association) and No. 98 (Right to Collective Bargaining) will be respected.

GEA headquarters are located in the GEA Center in Bochum, Germany. The company employs almost 60% of its staff outside Germany.

ENGIE

ENGIE renews agreement with three global unions

About the agreement

The Global Framework Agreement also commits the parties to “positive and constructive industrial relations inside all ENGIE companies,” as well as promoting such practices with business partners. It sets forth a framework regarding employee training, health and safety, and stable and sustainable employment, including priority on direct employment and adherence of company subcontractors to pay social security and pension contributions for their workers. Because of the nature of their work, another important commitment of the company that was agreed is to respect the principles contained in ILO Convention 94 related to labour clauses in public procurement.

It also pledges environmental stewardship that enjoins labour and management to combat climate change, protect workers’ rights and interests in accord with the principles of Just Transition, and supports efforts to control the impact on the environment of the company’s resources and activities. 

It commits ENGIE, the three Global Union Federations, and trade unions to cooperative social dialogue to achieve additional agreements, including on training, occupational heath and safety, restructuring, and sustainable development and climate change.

Daimler

In the agreement, Daimler acknowledges its social responsibility and supports the principles on human and workers' rights and the environment which form the basis for the United Nations' Global Compact initiative.

The framework agreement also states that Daimler supports and encourages its suppliers to introduce and implement "equivalent principles" in their own companies and expects its suppliers to incorporate these principles as "a basis for relations with Daimler."

Freudenberg

The agreement also contains Social Responsibility language, specifically that the company condemns involvement in unethical or illegal business and that as a matter of principle, privately-held Freudenberg will produce no weapons or war materials.

Significantly, the agreement provides for monitoring by the global union. Both sides commit themselves "to contact each other directly and immediately in case any conflicts or violations of the agreement arise, in order to seek a common solution."

Brunel

By signing the Global Framework Agreement, Brunel formalized its commitment to ensuring fundamental human rights by working with labour and the global union. The agreement, which initially applies to Brunel’s operations which fall within the scope of IndustriALL, includes specific reference to the core labour Conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, the right to equal pay, no forced or child labour and no discrimination.

The GFA provides for abstention from anti-union discrimination and commits on working against corruption. Brunel also commits to equal opportunity recruitment practices, continuous skills development and to ensuring that remuneration is better than, or at least equal to, conditions set forth in national legislation and collective bargaining agreements. Brunel also expects suppliers and subcontractors to adhere to the ILO conventions, with non-compliance resulting in sanctions, including withdrawal from future contracts.

The agreement came in response to the Howard Government’s use of temporary migrant labour to undercut wages and conditions in Australia. “Under the Howard Government, temporary migrant labour has been terribly exploited through large agency fees, excessive costs for poor quality housing, dismissal when workers become injured, threat of deportation if they join the union and poor wages and conditions,” explained AMWU president Julius Roe. “While strongly supporting immigration on the basis that migrant workers have full citizenship and other rights, the AMWU has sought to expose the plight of these migrant workers and tried to reach collective agreements with companies that seek to use temporary migrant workers,” he said. “The agreement with Brunel ensures that temporary migrant workers are only used where absolutely necessary and that they receive training, equal wages and conditions and union and collective agreement protection.

Bosch

Stating that a priority at Bosch is to combine "the pursuit of economic objectives with consideration for social and environmental factors", the principles of the agreement are based on the core labour standards of the International Labour Organisation.

Included in the GFA are provisions concerning the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining, children's rights, occupational health and safety, equal opportunities, and the rejection of forced labour.


As well as covering the entire Bosch Group, whose business sectors are divided into automotive, industrial, and consumer goods & building technologies, the agreement stipulates that the company will not work with suppliers that fail to comply with the basic ILO standards.

BMW

The agreement also states that the BMW Group expects its business partners and suppliers to adopt these principles as a criterion for lasting business relationships.

The agreement was signed after challenging and lengthy negotiations between the company and trade union and worker representatives.