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Key Points
Independent review, or independent third-party verification, and impact evaluations are critical to review and assess whether a labor due diligence process —from Step 1 to Step 8—is effectively reducing and remediating the risk or incidence of labor abuses in supply chains.
Independent review or independent third-party verification of a mechanism is often conducted through a combination of grievance mechanisms and assessments, including social auditing, as discussed in Step 5. When conducted effectively and in close collaboration with workers and workers’ organizations, these steps help companies identify areas for improvement and provide stakeholders with information on the implementation and effectiveness of a company’s system.
Key Topics
Examples in Action
Several small start-up companies are attempting to meet consumer demand for reliable information on companies' efforts to address supply chain labor abuses, among others.
GoodWeave encourages market demand for child labor-free certified rugs and home textiles and helps businesses meet that demand.
A multidisciplinary academic team from Tufts University and the ILO conducted a long-term impact evaluation of the Better Work program from 2009–2015. They evaluated project outcomes beyond the factory or industry level. The study team used the methodology to look at both managers and workers to assess human development and economic development indicators.
Further Resources
- ILO International Training Centre. The ILO Industrial Relations Toolkit. [Accessed March 30, 2022.]; available from https://www.itcilo.org/resources/ilo-industrial-relations-global-toolkit.
