How can we improve working conditions and employee rights in an efficient and effective manner? Through multi-company collective agreements (MC CBAs)
A multi-company collective bargaining agreement (MC CBA) is a form of labour agreements in which agreements are made about working conditions that apply to multiple companies within a sector and region. An important advantage is that not every factory has to negotiate its own collective bargaining agreement. Trade unions, employers, and local governments can work together to improve the quality of social dialogue and strengthen working conditions through a single, jointly negotiated collective bargaining agreement.
On this page, you can discover why this is not only important for workers and factories, but also for clothing brands that seek practical solutions to address human rights risks in their supply chains.
The concept of Multi-Company Collective Bargaining Agreements, or MC-CBAs, was developed by CNV Internationaal in collaboration with our local union partners. It is currently successfully implemented in Vietnam and Indonesia, particularly in the garment industry. As a result, more than 37,500 workers at 48 companies now work under improved conditions. Through our many years of experience in this process, we have seen that constructive cooperation between all parties involved has a lasting impact on workers and companies.
What's happening in the textile industry
What is the impact of MC-CBAs?
- Improved working conditions for employees, with better agreements on wages, gender equality, and combating violence against women in the workplace, among other things, and strengthening trade union rights;
- Improved dialogue and cooperation between employers and employees and/or trade unions;
- Fewer labour disputes and strikes;
- Higher productivity and quality through training and guidance.
‘Not just price, quality and speed, but better labour rights as a new sourcing criterion, that is the only way to make strides for the millions of women workers in this industry.’
Yen Nguyen, Programme Officer CNV Internationaal in Vietnam
Becoming part of an MC CBA
The positive impact of MC CBAs is also relevant for clothing brands that are looking for practical solutions to address human rights risks in their supply chain. As a clothing brand, you can effectively put human rights due diligence commitments into practice by supporting an MC-CBA process with your suppliers.
How? Read more here >
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