In February 2022, The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) Human Rights Coalition – Working to End Forced Labour (HRC) launched a new virtual training series to help raise awareness of the importance of deploying Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) systems in HRC members’ own operations. HRDD is the process organisations should carry out to identify, prevent, mitigate, and account for how they address actual and potential adverse human rights impacts in their own operations, their supply chain and other business relationships.

These trainings are designed for procurement, management, operational, and human resource professionals working in member companies’ own operations. According to the HRC’s HRDD Maturity Journey Framework, published in March 2021, own operations is defined as “the company itself, the entities it owns, the entities in which it holds a majority of voting shares, and the facilities it manages.” HRDD coverage of own operations therefore helps ensure members’ direct and indirect employees are free from forced labour risks in areas such as:

  • Retail stores;
  • Manufacturing plants;
  • Warehouses and distribution centres;
  • Sea and road transportation; and
  • Construction sites.

Designed to help raise awareness of HRDD, share best practices, and address challenges, the trainings are a crucial element of the HRC’s first project, which is focused on helping all Coalition members achieve 100% forced labour-focused HRDD coverage of their own operations by 2025. Implementation support is being provided by the Coalition’s technical partner, the Fair Labor Association (FLA). 

Launched in December 2020, the HRC is a CEO-led initiative of 29 global companies committed to helping achieve fair and decent working conditions worldwide by driving individual and collective action in their businesses and supply chains to eradicate forced labour. HRDD is a key focus for the Coalition, which has also selected own operations as a critical area of action 

The 29 members of the HRC are: Asia Pulp and Paper, Colgate-Palmolive, Danone, Essity, Ferrero, Heineken, Jerónimo Martins, L’Oréal, Mars, Inc., Marks and Spencer, McCormick & Co., METRO AG, Mondelēz International, Neste, Nestlé, PepsiCo, RB, REWE Group, Sainsbury’s, Starbucks, Tesco, The Bumble Bee Seafood Company, The Coca-Cola Company, The J.M. Smucker Company, The Kellogg Company, The Walt Disney Company, Unilever, Upfield, and Walmart.

To learn more about the HRC’s work fighting forced labour, visit www.tcgfsocial.com. CGF members and other companies interested in joining the HRC and participating in this work around due diligence are encouraged to reach out to the CGF Sustainability Team at social@theconsumergoodsforum.com for more information.

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