EU support for safer workplaces and fair production in producing countries Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, Marianne Thyssen, and Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, announced EU support for the G7's 'Vision Zero Fund' today. This Fund will support joint activities of governments, businesses, social partners and NGOs in the low income countries where goods are made, to reduce and prevent workplace related deaths, improve labour inspections, ensure fair production and help workers to exercise their rights. Funding It will get its funding from both public and private contributions and will be managed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Its first pilot activities will start in 2016, focusing on the ready-made garment sectors of selected producing countries. G7 meeting The funding was announced at the G7 Employment and Development Ministerial Meeting in Berlin on 12-13 October. The Vision Zero Fund will build on the commitment made at the G7 Summit in Elmau in June 2015 to foster sustainable global supply chains and to agree on concrete actions for implementation and follow-up. Background Following the collapse of the Rana Plaza garment factory in Bangladesh (April 2013), which resulted in over 1,200 deaths, the European Commission was quick to take action. It launched the EU Sustainability Compact in July 2013, together with the ILO, Bangladesh authorities and the US, to promote better labour rights and more responsible supply chain management. The EU seeks to ensure that its trading partners comply with core ILO labour standards and international environmental standards. In addition, several EU laws recently adopted or in preparation set out due diligence requirements in specific supply chains, such as timber or conflict minerals.