How amfori members turned grievances into solutions

As a growing number of companies understand the need to set up effective grievance mechanisms, amfori Speak for Change has enabled our members to investigate and remediate grievances related to a variety of due diligence issues in their supply chains. Out of all the cases that we have supported so far, there is one that particularly stands out as a good example of best practice. The key factor in this successful outcome? The active collaboration between all the parties involved.

From grievances to remedy

Via amfori Speak for Change, we received several complaints related to fair remuneration and decent working hours in a Vietnamese factory that was linked to two amfori members from the garment sector. amfori first reviewed the complaints and determined that they were admissible under the programme scope. When notified, both companies and their business partner immediately took an active part in the resolution process in order to find a suitable remedy.

The members kicked off the procedure by appointing an investigation handler from our pool of experts, who confirmed that the workers were paid below the legal minimum wage and were forced to work overtime. To remediate those issues, all parties agreed on a series of actions, including internal policy changes, that the business partner would need to apply in the factory. The implementation of those measures was then verified during the remediation handler’s visit in August 2023, followed by a fully unannounced amfori BSCI audit two months later. All grievances have now been remediated.

Some key results include:

• A revision of the salary policy and compensation so that workers would be paid the legal minimum wage
• The introduction of measures to ensure that workers wouldn’t work during lunch breaks or on Sundays (e.g., electrical power turned off outside working hours)
• The creation of a group chat for workers to share their complaints and suggestions directly with the factory’s management

Throughout the process, the business partner was very cooperative and immediately admitted to the allegations when the investigation handler presented their conclusions. They also appreciated that amfori Speak for Change encouraged them to improve their factory’s policies and practices.

Collaboration: The key to efficient grievance handling

Such results can only be achieved through the active participation and collaboration of all the parties involved. And those conditions are made possible by the type of grievance handling process that amfori Speak for Change provides. Indeed, such collaboration enables amfori members to support their business partners’ continuous improvement by working together to resolve due diligence issues. This helps them build trust and stronger business relationships.

For more information about amfori Speak for Change, please contact speakforchange@amfori.org.

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