Photo credits @ Twitter/ Faire Mobilitaet

German federal authority reveals how Agmaz drivers strike came to an end

An end to the long-running saga of the Agmaz truck drivers strike in Gräfenhausen was only made possible by companies that “agreed to help with a donation for humanitarian reasons.” That's according to Torsten Safarik, President of Germany's Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA), who spoke during an online conference on Monday.

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Safarik’s comments suggest that the money for the unpaid drivers did not come from Agmaz and its sister companies, but rather the forwarders and shippers who (knowingly or unknowingly) used Agmaz’s services.

According to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Safarik added that the striking drivers’ trucks contained goods from 58 companies that fell under the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LKSG).

Back in August, Faire Mobilitat claimed that big names like Red Bull, IKEA, Bauhaus, Obi, Audi, DHL, Dachser, Porsche, Intercargo and Rosner Logistik all had shipments in the Agmaz trailers parked at Gräfenhausen.

For the benefit of those unfamiliar with the LKSG law, it obliges companies with at least 3,000 employees in Germany to ensure that their suppliers comply with human rights.

“We are still checking to what extent the companies subject to the LKSG have complied with their due diligence obligations,” Safarik was quoted as saying.

Other key takeaways from the conference have been published on the official BAFA website.

BAFA states that the aim of Monday’s conference was “to improve working conditions in the transport industry.”

In particular, attendees discussed practical options for action and preventative measures that could be taken within the framework of the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act.

“The images of the month-long truck strike in Gräfenhausen have forced us to act. Human rights must also be protected in European supply chains. Today’s exchange showed practical ways in which situations like those in Gräfenhausen can be prevented in the future. It is also clear: every company has different requirements, but the due diligence requirements of the Supply Chain Act must always be adhered to,” said BAFA President Torsten Safarik, during the conference.