Zurich

In 2008, the city of Zurich, one of the founding members of the Procura+ campaign, put out a call for tenders for 16.000 computers, 11.000 monitors and various other electronic equipment. In this call for tenders, social and environmental considerations were included on the level of both the award criteria and the contract performance clause. This specific call is embedded in a broader policy approach regarding sustainable procurement. The Zurich city council has adopted a resolution regarding social sustainability which references to the ILO standards. It has also adopted a procurement policy stating that procured goods need to have economic, as well as ecological and social value.

The sustainability criteria included in the call for tenders for electronic equipment relate to the required energy performance of the products, but also demand the producers’ adherence to the core ILO Conventions. As part of the award criteria (with an 18% weight), interested bidders were required to explain their social management systems. The contract performance clause demanded adherence to the ILO Core Conventions. On the basis of the contract performance clause, dialogue about labour issues can be initiated. In this case, Dell was awarded the contract. The contract performance clause offers Zurich a basis to address Dell whenever controversial labour practices in Dell’s supply chain would arise. Zurich acknowledges the role of trade unions and NGOs in bringing such potential controversial practices to the attention. Would serious breaches of the social criteria occur the contract performance clause also potentially allows for fining Dell, or in the worst case for the cancellation of the contract.

Tender documents as provided by Zurich:

By means of Document T3-01 (Firmenprofil/Selbstdeklaration) bidding companies are requested to indicate if they, as well as their suppliers, are willing to commit to upholding regulations regarding workplace safety and working conditions, with specific reference to freedom of association, collective bargaining, forced labour, child labour and discrimination, as laid down in the ILO Core Labour Conventions.

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Zurich