ACT members agree on Annex to the ACT MoU on respect and exercise of Freedom of Association in Türkiye

An important milestone in the ACT process in Türkiye , ACT has enacted the Türkiye  Freedom of Association (FoA) Annex as  an annex to the ACT Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The FOA Annex contextualises global freedom of association commitments made by brands in the ACT Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).  It reflects the unique industrial relations challenges faced by industry stakeholders and establishes a clear, efficient and result-oriented protocol to continue supporting constructive and mature industrial relations in Türkiye

The Annex was agreed between 17 ACT member brands sourcing from Türkiye  and the Global Trade Union Federation IndustriALL including its affiliates in Türkiye. Reflecting international and National core labour legislation that are also covered  by all brands’ codes of conduct, it is an Industrial Relations agreement which  covers all supply chain units in the Turkish textile, garment and leather industries producing for ACT member brands.

Christina Hajagos-Clausen, Textile and Garment Industry Director at IndustriALL Global Union stated:

 ‘This agreement reflects the strong commitment ACT members have to building a sustainable, stable and fair industry in Türkiye . IndustriALL and our Turkish affiliates Deriteks Sendikası, Disk Tekstil Iscileri Sendikasi, Öz Iklip-Iz and Teksif and look forward to working closely with ACT member brands and their suppliers now that the Annex is enacted.’

ACT brands, IndustriALL Global Union and its affiliates in Türkiye  will work with supply chain units and trade unions, supporting social dialogue processes, to address any issues that may occur in the implementation of the FOA Annex. In this sense, the Türkiye  FOA Annex will come into force on 15 August 2022.