PARIS – OECD General Secretary Angel Gurría called out the challenges and urgent changes needed in the garment and footwear industries at the 5th yearly OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) forum on responsible supply chains, saying: “enterprises operating in the sector have the potential to generate growth, employment and skills development, if and only if, they ensure responsible operations and sourcing.”
“Unfortunately, he continued, “human rights and labour abuses as well as harm to the environment by enterprises remain prevalent throughout the supply chain in this (textile) sector.”
Gurría was speaking in front of 450 delegates from 40 countries, representing all global regions, and from diverse stakeholder groups [unions, NGOs and multi-stakeholder initiatives (MSI)] who gathered at the recent event ‘Create Impact’ in Paris.
Pamela Ravasio reports from France.
