A Clean Clothes Campaign Primer Focusing on the Global Apparel Industry,
November 2005

This “primer” provides background on various aspects of freedom of association and collective bargaining, particularly in the context of multi-stakeholder initiatives that deal with codes of conduct.

The 55 page report (excluding annexes) highlights that freedom of association and collective bargaining are universal human rights. It details the international instruments where these standards are codified and how they are dealt with – both through International Labour Organization supervisory mechanisms and national legislation. It then offers readers brief explanations of key subjects relating to organizing and collective bargaining and deals with different Code initiatives and their treatment of freedom of association and collective bargaining. In final sections, it raises some key points for further consideration and cites various sources that can be accessed for more information on this topic.

This document was written by Anne Lally with guidance from Jeroen Merk and Ineke Zeldenrust. It serves as a compilation of useful information on freedom of association and collective bargaining. As such, much of the information is lifted from other documents – writings of labor scholars, legal instruments, and official decisions. References are made to the sources in footnotes and website addresses are provided wherever possible in order to facilitate further research on this topic.

A first draft was presented to the participants in the CCC’s 19 September 2005 Freedom of Association Seminar held at IG Mettal’s national office in Frankfurt, Germany. This version includes their feedback, and that of various partners of CCC.