Role of business in preventing and addressing modern slavery
In order to prevent and address modern slavery, businesses need to listen to workers and fix the harm caused by modern slavery in supply chains. Property and construction business activities can both directly and indirectly impact the lives of many people, especially those hidden deep within complex supply chains.
Property and construction projects will often involve multiple tiers of management, operations, and procurement processes, sometimes stretching over many years. As a result, collaboration around key topics, such as grievance mechanisms and remediation, is more important than ever.
The global community of governments, investors and civil society increasingly expect businesses to address and prevent human rights related harm, including modern slavery.
Together, human rights grievance mechanisms and remediation are critical to leading modern slavery practice.
Download the guides
About the guides
KPMG Australia, in collaboration with the Property Council of Australia, has developed two practical guides for businesses to better understand and address modern slavery in the property and construction industry in Australia. They:
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Human rights grievance and remediation processes for modern slavery
The figure below illustrates the eight stages of the human rights grievance process and the five steps of the human rights remediation process:
STAGE 1
Occurrence of harm
STAGE 2
Raising the grievance
STAGE 3
Reporting the grievance
STAGE 4
Acknowledging the grievance
STAGE 5
Assessing the grievance
STAGE 6
Investigating the grievance
STAGE 7
Resolving the grievance
STAGE 8
Remediating the grievance
STAGE 8 STEPS
A. Safeguarding rights-holders
B. Identifying harm
C. Using leverage
D. Making things right
E. Preventing harm
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Once you have a clearly defined human rights grievance and/or remediation process that is fit for your business' needs, it is essential to apply the eight UNGPs effectiveness criteria as well as the REMEDY Framework. This will help to put into practice effective human rights grievance mechanisms and remedial processes and remedies supporting modern slavery due diligence.
Read our guides to learn more about the eight UNGPs effectiveness criteria as well as the REMEDY Framework.
Human rights grievance mechanisms empower the business to listen to its workers and improve their human rights due diligence practices though building trust and continuous learning. They are a key risk mitigation strategy, and one every business needs.
Effective human rights remediation for modern slavery requires businesses to put affected people at the centre. Understanding how to do this practically and meaningfully is vital for any business.
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