Following a month of intense negotiations mediated by the Dutch government, all court cases placed against staff of the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) and the India Committee of the Netherlands have been dropped.

As a result of the agreement between the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC), the India Committee of the Netherlands, and the Indian garment producer Fibre and Fabrics International and their subsidiary Jeans Knit Private Ltd. (FFI/JKPL), the company has agreed to drop all court cases against international and local NGOs, trade unions and internet companies. All documents related to the case will remain on CCC’s website, but be marked as “closed.” The agreement also stipulates that employees will be free to organise themselves in a union of their choice.

An ombudsperson will be appointed locally to handle labour-related complaints on short notice (in consultation with the employer, the unions and NGOs). Both the CCC and its Indian partners have agreed to end public campaigning, and pass any future complaints to the ombudsperson for resolution while he/she is in office.

A “Committee of Custodians” will serve as a sounding board for the ombudsperson and safeguard that all parties adhere to the agreement. The committee will include former Dutch Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers and Dr. Ashok Khosla, who has previously worked for the Indian government and the United Nations.

The CCC believes that this paves the way for a sustainable mechanism to solve possible future labour conflicts at FFI/JKPL factories.

Based on this agreement, the Dutch jean company G-Star, who was the main buyer at FFI/JKPL and had previously announced its intention to leave the factory, will resume orders.

• CCC release: “Victory of freedom of speech and organisation”
• CCC: FFI ‘Case Closed’
• Statement from former Dutch Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers

Previous news

• Arrest warrants issued for staff of Clean Clothes Campaign
• Clean Clothes Campaign summoned to Indian court in alleged defamation case