GOVERNANCE & COLLABORATION - Implementation

1.2.2 Implementation:
Grievance mechanisms

Does the company have channels available for internal and all external stakeholders to raise concerns about human rights impacts in its own operations or the value chain?

Scoring options

  • 10 = Yes, the company has channels available for internal and all external stakeholders to raise concerns about human rights impacts in its own operations or the value chain.
  • 5 = The company has channels for reporting on concerns, but it is unclear if this channel is used for submitting human rights grievances or if this channel is open only to employees.
  • 0 = No, the company does not have channels where concerns can be raised, or it is not publicly available.

Why is this important?

If the larger community has the opportunity to lodge grievances with a company, there is a higher probability that misconduct/issues will come to light and be addressed. This opportunity should be available for human rights grievances in operations as well as in supply chains.

About the scoring

A score of 10 is given if the company has a public statement that makes it clear that child labour or other human rights issues can be:

  • Reported to a dedicated hotline/grievance mechanism (either in-house or with suppliers that the company has access to through, e.g. audits or a neutral third party providing the service)
  • It should also be clearly communicated that the mechanism is available to all potential stakeholders (all community members) and not only available to employees/supplier

A score of 5 is given if it is clear from public disclosures that an ethics hotline/grievance mechanism exists, but it is unclear whether the hotline/grievance mechanism:

  • Includes human rights issues
  • Allows community or environment grievances to be reported
  • Allows all members of communities to use the mechanism or whether it is exclusively for employees/suppliers

Indicator reference

Children’s Rights and Business Principles:

  • All business should meet their responsibility to respect children’s rights and commit to supporting the human rights of children (Principle 1)
  • All business should provide decent work for young workers, parents and caregivers (Principle 3)

The GRI standards:

  • Reference 103-2

OECD MNE Guidelines:

  • Part 1, Chapter 2, p. 14, A9
  • Part 1, Chapter 2, p. 14, A10

OECD DD Guidelines:

  • Chapter 2, p. 25, 2.1

ESRS Indicators: S1-3, S1-17, S2-3, S3-3, S4-3, G1-1

Methodology

Corporate Sector & Children’s Rights
Benchmark Series

To methodology overview