The countries joined the Netherlands and Germany, broadening the collective effort to combat global challenges such as poverty, hunger, deforestation, climate change, and child labour.
The Joint Declaration, which advocates for the implementation of living wages and income in global supply chains, underscores the belief that everyone involved in the creation of a product, such as a bar of chocolate, deserves the right to decent work, a living wage and income.
Supporters of the Joint Declaration assert that living wages and incomes are more than just the bare minimum for survival—they also offer families the ability to set aside funds to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances or crises, ultimately helping to break the cycle of poverty. The push for living wages aligns with Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that “Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity.”
This renewed commitment comes in the wake of mounting global concerns about the number of workers and smallholder farmers living in poverty due to inadequate incomes and wages. The initial move to address these issues began in January 2021, when the Joint Declaration was signed by the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development and the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development. Following this, Belgium and Luxembourg expressed their willingness to join as additional signatories during high-level meetings in 2022.
On June 27, 2023, a significant stride was made when Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Liesje Schreinemacher, German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Svenja Schulze, Belgian Minister for Development Cooperation and Major Cities, Caroline Gennez, and Luxembourgish Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, Franz Fayot, jointly announced the signing of the declaration by Belgium and Luxembourg.
The declaration endorses several practical measures, including facilitating a dialogue between consumer and producer countries about suitable minimum wages and incomes, bolstering the International Labour Organization (ILO) in creating international definitions and indicators, and endorsing social dialogue to empower workers in producer countries. The agreement also champions the development of an ambitious EU Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CSDDD), designed to safeguard the rights of workers and smallholder farmers in global supply chains.
Recognizing the need for structural changes in partner countries, the signatories believe that the inclusion of living wages and incomes should be an essential part of the proposed EU Directive. Without these safeguards, they warn of a risk that those who are already vulnerable may fall further behind, a situation which could perpetuate a cycle of human rights abuses and environmental degradation.
The ministers involved have welcomed the European Parliament’s stance on this issue as of June 1, 2023, which suggests the inclusion of living incomes for producers and smallholders in the forthcoming EU-Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence.
With the signing of the Joint Declaration, the four participating countries emphasize their commitment to living incomes and wages worldwide, underlining their responsibility to ensure workers, producers, and smallholder farmers can maintain a decent standard of living through their daily labour. This step represents a significant push towards breaking the cycle of poverty in global supply chains.
