Overall, the Review Process sensitized the companies to a systematic and overarching risk analysis and approach in accordance with the OECD recommendations. The evaluation discussions were appropriate to work specifically towards improving the processes and measures in the companies with a focus on potentially affected persons. Thus, the companies took a “new” risk perspective – the perspective of the (potentially) affected. Nevertheless, in the future it is important to systematically and meaningfully involve those affected and other stakeholders on-site and strengthen their accountability in the risk analyses.

By analyzing and prioritizing their risks, the Partnership companies were able to define goals and measures in an impact-oriented manner. In this Review Process, it has been noticed that many companies continue to find it difficult to move from the identified risks to prioritization and that they do not systematically consider the severity. Another challenge is to formulate effective and SMART goals (SMART = specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, time-bound) that adequately reflect the identified risk. Nevertheless, the goals are a step in the right direction in terms of continuous improvement.

In addition, the Review Process led to companies dealing more intensively than before with the risks in their supply chain and their interactions. Many companies have good knowledge of their direct suppliers, especially RMG factories (Tier 1). However, many companies have not yet succeeded in taking the entire supply chain into account – neither in the risk analysis nor in the deduction of goals and measures. The biggest challenges are the lack of influence and information in the upstream value chain. Companies often assume that they can only take concrete goals and measures with full traceability. It is positive that many companies have undertaken further analyses on the basis of this and have set themselves additional voluntary goals for more traceability and supply chain transparency as well as for the improvement and further development of risk analysis.

Furthermore, the majority of Partnership companies mention the establishment and implementation of effective complaints mechanisms as a major challenge. Grievance processes are often inadequate and many companies are still in the early stages here. In particular, access to complaints mechanisms for those affected at deeper stages of the value chain is difficult. One approach to the solution is the Partnership Initiative Complaint Mechanisms, in which several Parntership members are working to ensure that more textile workers have access to complaint mechanisms and redress. A joint project with the Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) is part of the Partnership Initiative.

Report of the German Institute for Human Rights

The German Institute for Human Rights (Deutsches Institut für Menschenrechte, DIMR) accompanied six of the 55 assessment meetings. The aim was to assess the quality and suitability of the assessment meetings as an instrument for promoting due diligence obligations in the Textiles Partnership. The DIMR concluded that the assessment meetings are an important part of the Review Process and should remain a mandatory part of the process in the future. On the one hand, mutual understanding could be significantly increased by the meetings. On the other hand, there was an enhanced level of knowledge, which is necessary for the continuous improvement of the companies with regard to their implementation of the UN Guiding Principles.