How well do you know your suppliers?
The German Supply Chain Act, which went into force on January 1, 2023, is worrying employees at many companies a great deal. What’s required to maintain an overview of all suppliers and fulfill the requirements of this act?
Instead of going to school, millions of children around the world must work in order to help their families. UNICEF estimates that 160 million girls and boys aged 5 to 17 are forced to do child labor. Approximately half of them do dangerous work, for example breaking stones or mining. The Supply Chain Act obligates companies to examine their suppliers closely in order to prevent human rights violations and protect the environment.
What is meant by child labor?
According to the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, the term refers to any work that harms the physical or intellectual development of children and young people or that prevents them from going to school. The worst activities include, among others, prostitution, misuse as slaves or forced workers, drug smugglers, or soldiers.
The Supply Chain Act
Since the beginning of 2023, the German Supply Chain Act (LkSG) obligates companies with more than 3000 employees to take responsibility for their entire supply chain. This affects both their own area of activity as well as those of their direct and indirect suppliers. The goal of the Supply Chain Act is to protect basic human rights and especially to prevent children from doing child and forced labor. Attention must also be paid to environmental concerns in order to protect people’s health. Compliance is monitored by the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development; there are fines in case of violations. Starting in 2024, the due diligence will be expanded to companies with 1000 employees. There will also be a European supply chain act.
To avoid fines and damage to their reputations, companies need transparency about their entire supply chain network right now.
Canan Jungel
Principal, Staufen.Ag
There are fines if due diligence is not done
Initially, 50 employees of the German Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) will examine whether companies are doing their due diligence. At the latest four months after the end of the fiscal year, companies must transmit a report about the fulfillment of their duties to the ministry. The report consists of responses to a structured questionnaire that the ministry has published in advance. You can download the BAFA Supply Chain Act questionnaire free of charge here.
But many companies have put off the required measures for a long time and underestimated the effort required for due diligence. Their employees are lacking the necessary expertise with regard to processes, responsibilities, and tools in order to record and analyze hundreds or even thousands of suppliers.
What can companies do now?
Reconfiguring the supply chain network and introducing risk management create the necessary prerequisites for implementing the Supply Chain Act – and for being armed for the requirements of the upcoming European supply chain act.
We at Staufen can help you, with practical advice on an equal playing field. Feel free to contact us!
Canan Jungel
PrincipalSTAUFEN.AG
Since 2014, Canan Jungel has been an international project consultant, coach and trainer at Staufen AG, supporting Lean Transformation projects in direct and indirect areas in a wide range of industries. As Head of Supply Chain Network Management (SCNM), she has been responsible for implementing supply chain projects in national and international environments since 2021.
Some of her references include global supply chain projects, the integrated design and implementation of inventory reduction programs for Tier 1 automotive suppliers, the multi-site introduction of Shop Floor Management in direct and indirect areas, the optimization of production systems and the implementation of logistics systems and control concepts. Canan Jungel demonstrates her expertise as a trainer in the design and implementation of Lean Expert Training courses and client-specific qualification programs within Staufen Academy.
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