Advancing Grievance Mechanisms and Effective Remediation in the Changing World of Work

Background 

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In today’s rapidly evolving world of work, marked by non-standard employment, complex global supply chains, and technological advancements, ensuring labour justice is paramount. Traditional enforcement models often fall short, necessitating innovative approaches to grievance mechanisms and remediation. Integrating dynamic grievance mechanisms is not a standalone exercise, but a critical component of ongoing human rights due diligence, enabling continuous monitoring and timely remediation. 

 

This session will explore the challenges and opportunities in labour justice, emphasizing the role of social dialogue, effective enforcement, and remediation. It will highlight the complementary roles of labour inspectorates, employers, and workers’ organizations in fostering proactive compliance and access to remedy. The discussion aims to identify actionable strategies for governments, businesses, and trade unions to address decent work deficits in Africa and beyond.

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Key Objectives

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• Analyze the impact of non-standard employment, global supply chains, and technology on labour justice.

• Emphasize the importance of social dialogue in grievance handling and conflict resolution.

• Discuss the role of labour inspectorates and strategic compliance models in enforcing labour laws.

• Explore diverse dispute resolution mechanisms, including grievance mechanisms, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution.

• Promote collaboration among the UN, governments, the private sector, trade unions, and other stakeholders to enhance labour justice.

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Guiding Questions

 

• How can businesses integrate grievance mechanisms into their operations to address labour disputes effectively?

• What innovative approaches can labour inspectorates adopt to ensure workers’ rights are upheld in non-traditional work arrangements?

• In what ways can technology integrate grievance reporting and resolution directly into corporate due diligence processes, creating a seamless feedback loop from worker to boardroom on labour rights issues?

• How can we leverage technology ad community-based structures to make social dialogue more inclusive and accessible for all workers, especially those in fragmented and informal sectors, to ensure their grievances are collectively heard and lead to remediation?

• What are the key challenges in implementing strategic compliance models, and how can they be overcome?

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Expected Outcomes

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• Enhanced understanding of labour justice challenges in Africa’s evolving work landscape.

• Identification of practical strategies for improving grievance mechanisms and remediation.

• Strengthened stakeholder collaboration to promote compliance and access to remedy.

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Background to the Discussion

 

The evolving nature of work, driven by globalization and digitalization, has introduced new challenges for labour justice. Traditional enforcement mechanisms often fall short, especially in sectors with fragmented employment relationships. This session will examine these gaps by exploring how social dialogue, proactive compliance, and innovative remediation strategies can promote fair outcomes for workers.

 

In Africa, where informal and non-standard employment is widespread, the need for effective grievance mechanisms is urgent. The session will emphasize regional perspectives and solutions, focusing on the roles of governments, businesses, and worker organizations in promoting labour justice through collaboration and innovation.

 

Additional Background Documents

·       ILO Labour Standards

·       UN Global Compact Labour Principles