 GERMANY: On the eve of the 31st World Congress, the IMF has signed an international framework agreement (IFA) with BMW. The Joint Declaration on Human Rights and Working Conditions in the BMW Group is the eleventh IFA signed with a transnational company.
The agreement, which specifies all the International Labour Organisation core labour conventions along with provisions on remuneration, working time and occupational health and safety, commits BMW to comply with the declaration. Among the ILO core labour standards are prohibition on the use of slave or child labour and the rights to freedom of association and to bargain collectively. 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 on April 26 by IMF president Jürgen Peters, the chair of the European Works Council Manfred Schoch, and company representatives. The agreement was signed after challenging and lengthy negotiations between the company and trade union and worker representatives.
The implementation of the agreement is to be discussed later this year at an IMF meeting of IG Metall, BMW European Works Council representatives, and trade union participants representing or organizing company operations outside of Europe. The date for this meeting is not yet confirmed.
A copy of the agreement in German and English is available on the IMF website. Copies in other languages will be posted once available.
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