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IndustriALL Global Union and industriAll European Trade Union are pushing back against proposed revisions to key EU sustainability laws, warning that the changes could undermine vital protections for workers. In an open letter, IndustriALL Global Union and industriAll European Trade Union are calling on lawmakers to resist pressure to weaken corporate human rights due diligence rules.
The current debates and statements in Europe on Omnibus Directive Package I and II, are very concerning. They risk seriously weakening key corporate sustainability laws, namely the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
These packages, framed under a ‘competitiveness’ agenda, aim to revise or roll back key elements of corporate sustainability and reporting obligations. They substantially discourage already-initiated processes in businesses and workplaces through social dialogue and other instruments developed. Many companies see the value of the CSDDD and the CSRD, and they are already actively engaged in making them concrete on the ground.
Watering down these tools would be a serious setback for these front runners.
“Weakening HRDD laws will leave workers exposed and unprotected. Strong, legally binding HRDD is key to rebuilding trust, strengthening democracy and ensuring fundamental rights are upheld in a fairer global economy,” says IndustriALL Global Union assistant general secretary Kemal Özkan.
The UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights warns that the packages do not align with the UN Guiding Principles of Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and risks undermining important advancements on the business and human rights agenda.
A survey of 1,350 German business decision-makers shows strong support for due diligence rules, with 69 per cent rating them as important and many reporting competitive benefits. Yet, over half of them also report that the proposed Omnibus changes introduce confusion and delay investments.
“This a wrong signal to workers and business in the current global context. We condemn the proposals since they are a direct attack on workers’ rights and corporate accountability. And send a very worrying message to workers,” says Judith Kirton-Darling, industriAll Europe’s general secretary.
According to the 2025 ITUC Global Rights Index, workers’ rights are deteriorating worldwide, with Europe and the Americas seeing their worst scores ever.
IndustriAll Europe and industriALL Global union are standing up for the rights and dignity of millions of manufacturing, energy, and mine
workers in industries that are vital to our economies and societies. Policymakers in Europe must not to weaken the CSRD and CSDDD. These laws must be strengthened to ensure the protection of workers and communities everywhere.