Reliably identify black sheep
Paragraph 4a of the North Rhine-Westphalia Burial Act stipulates that gravestones from certain countries may only be installed in German cemeteries if they can be proven to have been made without child labor. Previously difficult to implement, NRW is now working on clear proof.
The crux of § 4a BestG NRW is how to identify the countries in which child labor is used in the production of gravestones in violation of Convention 182 of the International Labour Organization. An expert report commissioned by the NRW Ministry of Health has now identified China, India, the Philippines and Vietnam as the countries of origin of potentially problematic workpieces. The somewhat unwieldy title of the work: “Child labor in the natural stone sector – Scientific study on Section 4a of the Cemetery and Funeral Services Act of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia”.
Based on these findings, the recognition procedures for the officially recognized certification bodies have been underway since 31 January 2019. “As a state association for the natural stone industry, it goes without saying for us and our member companies that child labor cannot be tolerated in the extraction and manufacture of natural stone products,” explains David Tigges, Managing Director NRW of vero (Verband der Bau- und Rohstoffindustrie e. V.). “We welcome the plans in NRW to use state recognition procedures to identify certification bodies that guarantee a high level of credible verification in the countries concerned. In the past, and therefore in advance of mandatory certification, our companies affected by the law had already submitted to voluntary certification.”
According to a circular from September 2018, certification will only be mandatory once it is clear which certificates are recognized. According to vero, the state chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia has stated that this process will take several months. Once the process has been completed, affected companies will be given a transitional period and a new circular will be issued. In the meantime, the State Chancellery recommends not joining a certification body until it is clear what the outcome of the recognition procedure will be.
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