The challenge
Percentage of Dutch large companies that have implemented one or more of the 6 steps of the due diligence process
Companies endorsing OECD guidelines
Milestones
2002
Ratification ILO convention 182 ‘Worst forms of child labour’ (February 14), Ratification ILO convention no. 138 (Minimum Age) was ratified in 1976 (September 14).
2010
The Hague Global Child Labour Conference; Towards a world without child labour; mapping the Road to 2016 The second International Child Labour Conference 2010 in The Hague, brought together a diverse and representative array of actors involved in the fight against child labour. The conference concluded with the The Hague Roadmap for achieving the elimination of the worst forms of child labour by 2016 which included principles and actions for the different stakeholders.
2013
Presentation of the Action Plan RBC Policy of the government In this action plan, the Dutch government describes the added value of the government in RBC, and what activities it will undertake in the coming years. This focusses on: Doing a sector risk analysis, which shows high RBC risk sectors in the Netherlands; giving information of RBC; Stimulating transparency and stakeholder dialogue; and Promoting monitoring and compliance with OECD guidelines.
2013
Adoption of first National Action Plan Business & Human Rights Focussing on the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights by the Netherlands. Five main points came out of the consultations with stakeholders: active role of government; policy coherence; clarifying due diligence; transparency and reporting; and scope for remedy. The NAP describes concrete actions that will be taken on these topics.
2016
First voluntary Sector Agreement on RBC launched; The Dutch tripartite Social-Economic Council (SER) recommended concluding multistakeholder sector agreements promoting international responsible business conduct (IRBC agreements) in so called high-RBC risk sectors. The first one to be concluded was the Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textiles. In 2021, 11 sectors have concluded and started implementing international RBC agreements.
2017
2018
Start ILO ACCEL programme
2019
2019
Launch ‘Programme: Together against Human Trafficking’ This programme is a joint initiative of several ministries to tackle sexual exploitation, labour exploitation and criminal exploitation through an integrated approach.
2019
Adaptation Child Labour Duty of care Act This draft Act, adopted on the initiative of Dutch MP Kuiken, provides for the introduction of a duty of care to prevent the supply of goods and services that have been created with the help of child labour. The Act asks companies to declare that they perform due diligence and do what is necessary to prevent child labour. The law has not yet entered into force, awaiting further (EU- or national) legislation on due diligence.
2020
International Meeting ‘Taking next steps to end child labour in global supply chains’ The Dutch government, together with Global March and ILO, organised this international meeting to raise the urgency to eliminate child labour and accelerate actions, by discussing among different stakeholders practical solutions and next steps to end child labour by 2025 in line with SDG Target 8.7. 12 Companies made a commitment to eliminate child labour in their supply chains.
2021
Updating National Action Plan Business and Human Rights and national RBC policy Currently, The Netherland’s has begun a process to develop an updated NAP. As part of this process a national baseline assessment was published in August 2020 (in Dutch). Also, the government has evaluated its RBC policy and proposes a RBC policy consisting of a mix of mutually reinforcing measures for an effective change. A key element of the new smart mix is a general due diligence obligation.
