From Law to Action: Human Rights Due Diligence Goes Practical

After years of preparation in cooperation with partners from the global trade union movement, the new Human Rights Due Diligence Competence Centre was formally announced in March 2025. We spoke to Mirko Herberg, Coordinator of the Global Trade Union Programme at the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) about the Foundation's role in Germany’s Supply Chain Act and the development of the new competence centre.

Why is the FES so strongly committed to the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act or the LKSG?

Mirko Herberg: The LKSG is a crucial instrument for our international trade union work. For many years now, we have been supporting initiatives of our Global Union partners that seek to improve the working conditions and rights of employees of multinational corporations and their supply chains. The LKSG has given us a solid legal basis to effectively demand compliance with human rights due diligence obligations.

How did the idea of establishing the Human Rights Due Diligence Competence Centre come about?

In discussions with our partners – especially UNI Global Union and German unions – it quickly became clear that there were insufficient resources and capacity to fully leverage the potential of the LKSG. This led to the idea of creating a competence centre to consolidate knowledge, highlight opportunities for action and connect key stakeholders. The FES provided substantial support for a feasibility study and has since remained closely involved in the centre's development.

What specific role has the FES played in the process?

We have been part of the informal coordination committee from the outset and have been actively involved in the entire process: from designing the project and submitting the funding application to the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to determining the centre’s strategic direction. There were also educational events in Panama and Côte d’Ivoire which we implemented jointly with the initiators. The soft launch was a very important step – and a strong signal for international cooperation.

What distinguishes the centre from other initiatives in the field of due diligence?

This project stems from the trade union movement and has a clear focus on workers’ rights along global supply chains, especially freedom of association and collective bargaining. The aim of the centre is not just to impart knowledge but most importantly to create real opportunities for trade unions, employees and their representatives.

How will the FES be involved in the future?

As a member of the Advisory Board, we will maintain close ties with the centre and will continue supporting it with our educational and networking efforts. Embedding human rights due diligence in both international trade union work and the design of global supply chains will remain a key priority for the Foundation.

What, in your opinion, is needed for the centre to have a lasting impact – both nationally and internationally?

Robust structures, long-term political and financial support, as well as a strong alliance of partners. The aim is to support trade unions worldwide to effectively leverage human rights due diligence obligations – for instance through capacity-building, strategic interventions or by exerting political influence. What matters is for legislation to translate into tangible improvements for workers.

Was there a moment when you realised that this initiative had real potential?

During the preparatory workshops in Africa and Latin America, the participating trade unionists made it very clear to us that the Competence Centre could give them tangible advice, helping them to solve problems where they had no real leverage on their own.  

What can be done to facilitate even closer cooperation between global trade unions and German politics?

We can bring even more trade unionists and workers who are part of the global supply chains that Germany benefits from into the country to talk with politicians and business associations. Listening to Pakistani textile workers or Ecuadorian banana pickers tell us about their experiences helps us to understand why these regulations are needed. As Chair of the German Trade Union Confederation Yasmin Fahimi said: “Human rights are not bureaucracy.”