Los pasados 17 y 18 de noviembre, veintiuna organizaciones del sector público y siete organizaciones de monitoreo de la sociedad civil de 13 países diferentes se reunieron en Barcelona, España, para participar en el encuentro Affiliate Exchange for Impact. Pensado para facilitar el aprendizaje y el intercambio de experiencias entre afiliados, el encuentro sirvió para crear una mayor conciencia sobre el poder y la influencia colectiva que tienen los compradores públicos y sobre cómo podemos reforzarla para proteger los derechos de las personas que trabajan en las cadenas de suministro global. Este documento ofrece un resumen editado de las principales conclusiones del encuentro y puede ser compartido públicamente.

Twenty-one public sector organisations and seven civil society monitoring organisations from 13 countries convened in Barcelona, Spain for the event, Affiliate Exchange for Impact. By facilitating learning and exchange, this event increased awareness about public buyers' collective leverage and how can be strengthened to protect the rights of workers in global supply chains. This document provides a redacted summary of the key takeaways and can be shared publicly.

Report prepared for Electronics Watch

BHRE Research Series, Policy Paper n. 7

Martina Trusgnach and Olga Martin-Ortega

Public buyers in many countries have been able to promote supply chain transparency and better conditions in global supply chains, such as electronics, for several years already. Yet, we are only beginning to realise this potential of public procurement to drive improvements in supply chains. With this analysis we seek to push this development a bit further by suggesting areas of sustainability criteria for the EPEATTM ecolabel that best meet the needs of workers in the global electronics industry and address gaps in corporate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance.

This dialogue-based, strategic approach looks beyond the tendering phase to develop relationships with the market before and after tendering. One common format is hosting a dialogue event. This guide aims to support public authorities in this regard by providing a set of practical steps on how to plan a market dialogue event, online or in-person.

This criteria document aims to support experienced procurers in leveraging public purchases of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hardware to positively impact working conditions across the electronics supply-chain. The criteria set covers guidance on Subject Matter, Selection and Award Criteria, Technical Specifications as well as Contract Clauses. The criteria set is ambitious as it goes beyond smelter level but addresses issues at mining stage also.

by Region Stockholm (Sweden)

by the municipality of Stavanger (Norway)

by Advanced Procurement for Universities & Colleges (APUC), Scotland

by Municipality of Haarlem, the Netherlands

by the Municipal Institute of Computer Science of Barcelona City Council (IMI)

This guidance provides essential background knowledge and practical steps to help public buyers protect workers from chemical hazards in their electronics supply chains. The guidance focuses on 12 chemicals that should be immediately discontinued and 16 that should be used only with adequate industrial hygiene measures.  It suggests both pre-award and post-award measures to screen our the worst offenders, reward suppliers who improve chemical safety, and improve the health and safety of workers in factories that make electronics products and components for public buyers.

This assessment tool supports public buyers in their efforts to ensure human rights due diligence in their supply chains in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. The tool consists of questions public buyers can pose to their suppliers about occupational health and safety, labour rights, and other supply chain issues that Covid-19 impact. Public buyers can use the tool as a self-assessment questionnaire for suppliers and/or a guidance for human rights due diligence.

Also available in Spanish

This Electronics Watch study of the Swedish county councils' experience in working with its IT contractor, Atea, and subcontractor, Dell, to respect workers' rights in China contains valuable lessons for public sector buyers that seek to ensure respect for labour rights in their global supply chains.

Are you a public sector buyer in the UK looking for tools to help you comply with the Modern Slavery Act? Or are you simply looking for the most effective ways of eliminating human trafficking, slavery, and forced labour from your supply chain?  Electronics Watch can help with your ICT hardware supply chain.  This memo explains how.