Tell Your MP to back a new law to hold brands to account

From poverty wages, to union-busting, from unsafe factories, to gender-based violence – UK brands don’t just ignore exploitation and abuse in their supply chains, they profit from it.

It’s time to tip the balance of power.

Garment workers and campaigners around the world have been fighting for decades to improve conditions and hold big fashion to account – but we need more tools to strengthen our hand.

Across the EU, new laws are being introduced that will make it more possible for workers everywhere to hold companies accountable for human rights abuses and environmental harms. The UK is shamefully lagging behind, and it remains too difficult for garment workers around the world to bring cases against UK brands in UK courts.

We urgently need a UK law to hold fashion brands accountable when they fail to prevent violations of the rights of garment workers who make their clothes.

With a new government in charge, now is the time to show the UK is committed to raising the bar on human rights, environmental protections and corporate accountability. Holding brands to account for the harm that is caused in their supply chain makes sense. Now we need to make sure all parliamentarians know how many of us support this law.

If enough of us demand a new Business Human Rights and Environment Act, our elected representatives must listen!

Write to your MP

I am writing to you as a constituent to ask you to support the introduction of a new UK Business, Human Rights and Environment (BHRE) Act: primary legislation that would mandate businesses to prevent rights abuses in their own operations and value chains by conducting due diligence and enable access justice for victims of corporate harm; which I believe we urgently need.

In 2011, the United Nations unanimously adopted the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The Principles call on states to ensure businesses respect human rights through laws and guidance. Such laws are rapidly becoming the new consensus, but the UK is lagging behind.

With a new government in charge, now is the time to ensure our rules are in line with principles of fairness and justice. 81% of people in the UK want a new UK law requiring British companies to prevent human rights abuses in their supply chains, and hundreds of businesses and investors have publicly declared their support for a law of this nature. It is vital that support for it grows in the Commons too. Please show your support for a new UK Business, Human Rights and Environment law by signing the Good Business Matters pledge for decision makers, which many of your fellow parliamentarians have already signed:   goodbusinessmatters.org/decision-makers-pledge

I believe this new law is urgently needed. In the garment industry, which is particularly important to me, it would help put an end to the notorious rights abuses and sweatshops that are still linked to all too many UK fashion companies. It would mean the UK is once again in the lead on this issue, it would protect people and planet from abuses in UK corporate value chains, and it would incentivise businesses to adopt ethical supply practices.

Yours sincerely,