Ruling in Response to Stakeholder Complaint, somo and others v. C&A Nederland C.V.

The Complaints and Disputes Committee (cdc) for the Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile received a complaint from the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (Stichting Onderzoek Multinationale Ondernemingen, or somo) – the Netherlands, Clean Clothes Campaign (Stichting Schone Kleren Campagne, or skc) – the Netherlands, and z and four former workers (z) – Myanmar as stakeholders against C&A Nederland C.V. somo, skc, and z are each admissible as a stakeholder within the meaning of Article 1.10 of the Procedural Rules, which stipulate that legal persons may be regarded as stakeholders if the interests they represent in their activities and objectives as stated in their articles of association have been damaged because of a breach of the agt.1 This applies to both somo and skc. z is an organization in Myanmar. According to its mission statement, z was founded to protect worker rights. Although z has no formal legal personality, it can be considered an informal legal entity and is therefore admissible.2 z is also admissible as a mandatory within the meaning of Article 1.7 of the Procedural Rules because it has been mandated by four former employees of the production site identified in the case documents.3