EU: Support Strong Rules to Protect Business Supply Chains

(Brussels, October 30, 2025) –The European Union should not yield to businesses that want to weaken requirements to safeguard working conditions through business supply chains and protect workers’ human rights, 141 organizations including Human Rights Watch said today in a joint letter in advance of a vote by the European Parliament on the Omnibus I legal committee position.

“We believe that an ambitious compromise which covers more companies, includes a serious climate commitment, and allows access to justice will deliver real benefits for people, the planet and the EU’s economy,” the groups said. “It will equip companies with a more effective coherent EU framework to prevent harm, safeguard working conditions throughout supply chains, and enable those harmed to seek justice, while also improving economic resilience and strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy as a frontrunner in sustainable business practices.”

The following is the joint letter:

Call for European Parliament to deliver a credible and ambitious approach on Omnibus I

Dear Members of the European Parliament,

Ahead of the scheduled vote during the Plenary session on Thursday 13 November, we are urging the major pro-European political groups to come together and secure a responsible, ambitious, and workable agreement on Omnibus I. This is a critical moment to secure the EU’s role as a global leader in sustainability and corporate accountability.

All through the Omnibus I negotiation process, civil society organisations, human rights defenders, trade unions, responsible investors, and progressive businesses have consistently called for an approach that strengthens the EU’s sustainability framework. This broad alignment across stakeholders reflects a shared understanding: that effective sustainability reporting, responsible corporate behavior and accountability are essential to protect human rights and the environment, ensure access to justice and remedy for affected people, and build corporate resilience and foster innovation through responsible, long-term and efficient supply chain relationships.

Throughout decades of advocacy for workers and consumers rights, industry lobbyists have repeatedly dismissed such policies as “bad for business”. This rhetoric comes primarily from companies benefiting from abusive business models, such as extractive ones, who are unwilling to evolve and who have failed to invest seriously in sustainability and future-proof operations and standards. In fact, evidence demonstrates that the costs of environmental destruction, exploitation of workers, and social harm, far exceed the investments required for responsible business conduct. Europe’s long term growth will come from addressing these systemic risks directly and will positively distinguish the European economy on the global stage.

We believe that an ambitious compromise which covers more companies, includes a serious climate commitment, and allows access to justice will deliver real benefits for people, the planet and the EU’s economy. It will equip companies with a more effective coherent EU framework to prevent harm, safeguard working conditions throughout supply chains, and enable those harmed to seek justice, while also improving economic resilience and strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy as a frontrunner in sustainable business practices. Indeed, this was the Commission’s reasoning for the original proposal of the CSDDD: to push the single market together into a secure, competitive position in the economy of the 21st century.

Rolling back on international standards at this stage risks ceding leadership, undermining legal certainty and investor confidence, abandoning EU climate commitments and its duty to protect human rights, including by providing safe and healthy living and working conditions for people, while weakening European companies ability to compete in a rapidly changing and increasingly transactional global marketplace.

The moment to act is now. We call on members of the European Parliament to re-engage in constructive dialogue, find an effective and credible compromise to protect the standards and norms that have been achieved, and deliver on the commitments that many of you have publicly supported.

Europe’s workers, businesses, and citizens deserve a framework that both protects their interests and positions our economy for long-term resilience and success. We urge you to step forward in leadership at this decisive time.

EU and non-EU signatures: