EcoVadis, a provider of business sustainability ratings and solutions, has introduced Worker Voice Connect, a digital grievance mechanism designed to empower workers to anonymously report workplace concerns. This initiative allows companies to monitor and address human rights issues within their global supply chains.
The solution addresses a gap in existing grievance mechanisms, which often concentrate on issues such as corruption or compliance rather than working conditions or human rights. These mechanisms typically exclude on-the-ground workers who may be hesitant to use them or unaware of their existence. Worker Voice Connect facilitates open, ongoing dialogue between workers, suppliers, and companies, enabling workers to speak up at any time.
Pierre-Francois Thaler, Co-CEO and Co-founder of EcoVadis, highlighted the limitations of traditional grievance and whistleblower channels, noting that they often only cater to direct employees and fail to reach workers in the supply chain. This leaves organisations unaware of potential risks and restricts workers’ access to remedies.
The key features of Worker Voice Connect include anonymous two-way communication, access via multiple channels such as WhatsApp, QR codes, or the web, without the need for corporate apps or smartphones, and support for 20 languages. Suppliers and buyers can access detailed dashboards to track cases and overall programme performance, with support for data sharing across networks.
This solution builds on EcoVadis’ existing Worker Voice solutions, developed in collaboration with human rights analytics company Ulula, which EcoVadis acquired in September 2024.
Thaler further emphasised the growing global demand for labour and human rights solutions as new due diligence regulations and international labour standards intensify scrutiny on global enterprises. He noted that worker rights are a pressing ethical, financial, and regulatory issue, warning that companies failing to act will face significant financial, reputational, and legal consequences.
