Dutch AGT expands its assessment methodology

The Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textiles (AGT) has updated its assessment methodology to provide a practical explanation of each evaluation criterion to help participating companies understand what is expected of them.

For annually assessing the participating companies, the assessment framework is fundamental for the AGT secretariat. It provides the OECD guidelines for international responsible business behaviour conduct (RBC).

The document outlines not just the assessment framework, but also the tools and processes that go along with it. According to AGT, the parties to the Agreement believe it is critical, to be honest about how this process works.

It goes on to say that by offering explicit assessment criteria for each inquiry, the structure of a company’s evaluation becomes more structured. It’s also become clearer what happens if a corporation doesn’t match the requirements. Then, for example, the independent Complaints and Disputes Committee can be consulted.

The AGT expects that with approaching legislation at EU level regarding due diligence, the paper will be valuable for enterprises (both SMEs and major corporations) outside the AGT and in other industries.

Companies are being assessed more sharply than previously when it comes to the question of a living wage. They must explain the difference between the paid (minimum) pay and the living wage in detail.

The worldwide RBC standards featured in the assessment framework, as well as its execution, are principally based on the OECD Guidelines. According to the AGT, a detailed examination undertaken by the OECD in 2020 corroborated this.