Helping workers and communities voice issues and get them resolved

Providing workers and communities with effective grievance mechanisms is central to meeting the requirements of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). Furthermore grievance mechanisms are a core element in human right due diligence and in the global efforts towards responsible business practices pushed through human rights and environmental due diligence (HREDD) legislation.

We help our members and their suppliers make sure they have the right systems in place to receive, investigate, prevent and respond to complaints. And, most importantly, implement remedy to solve them. Grievance mechanisms can also be important early warning systems and provide critical information for broader human rights due diligence processes.

Photo of an African man standing outdoors, looking at a mobile phone. Photo of a woman holding a notebook, speaking to two people in a meeting room.

The UNGPs state that if workers, farmers, community members or other stakeholders raise a complaint about a company, it has a responsibility to provide a resolution for those affected.

Grievance mechanisms should offer multiple opportunities for workers to raise concerns and provide feedback. We help our members and their suppliers:

“The AIM-Progress Grievance Mechanism Maturity Framework and Guidance will help Danone in advancing our work on grievance mechanisms within our global supply chains through continuous improvement.”

Frédérique Desroches Human Rights Lead, Danone

Grievance Mechanisms Working Group

This group helps members and suppliers strengthen their grievance mechanisms. Its objectives are to:

  • explore how grievance mechanisms can be effective for workers, farmers and communities
  • support scaling up of effective grievance mechanisms in line with the UN Guiding Principles in supply chains
  • encourage collaborative projects and best practice sharing globally and through the APAC and Africa hubs
  • increase understanding of how grievance mechanisms can reach vulnerable groups in supply chains
  • explore how access to remedy can be advanced at all supply chain levels