Report on the Impact of the German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations on Türkiye
This comprehensive study, supported by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Association Türkiye Representation, serves a pivotal role in encouraging future research initiatives in this field and aims to anticipate the potential effects of the German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains (Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz, LkSG), which came into force in Germany in January 2023, within the Turkish context.
Given the close commercial partnership between Türkiye and Germany, the enactment of the LkSG marks a significant turning point for companies operating in Türkiye. With the introduction of LkSG, German companies falling within the scope of the LkSG are obliged to carry out a regular human rights and environmental risks assessment through their own operations (including those of their subsidiaries), as well as the operations of their direct suppliers globally, and take actions to prevent, mitigate and remedy the relevant risks/violations as required under the HRDD process. Hence Turkish companies that are direct suppliers of German companies will be under the scope of the mentioned risk assessment. As for the indirect suppliers, the risk assessment will not be on a regular basis, but on substantiated knowledge – which might also impact Turkish companies that are within global supply chains of German companies.
Project
Report on the Impact of the German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations on Türkiye
Project Partner
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Status
Completed
Accordingly, Turkish companies that are supplying goods or services to German companies will eventually need to comply with the HRDD requirements set out in the LkSG, in order to sustain their commercial relations with their German business partners.
The study aims to provide essential insights into LkSG’s provisions, HRDD practice and the broader field of business and human rights. It acts as a starting guide for various non-governmental organisations, particularly trade unions, human rights defenders, and associations and foundations operating in the human rights sphere.