The establishment of effective grievance mechanisms that allow workers, communities, and other stakeholders to raise concerns and seek redress are integral to effective Social Compliance Systems. In August and September, the MY Voice team collaborated with The Consumer Goods Forum Human Rights Coalition (CGF HRC) to organize a series of workshops titled ‘’Strengthening Grievance Mechanisms in the Palm Oil Supply Chain’.
The one-day training workshops, held in Sandakan, Sabah and Kuala Lumpur, focused on providing palm oil companies in Malaysia with comprehensive knowledge and practical steps to develop and implement effective grievance mechanisms within their operations and supply chain.
Nearly 60 participants from palm oil companies, civil society organizations (CSOs) and technical service providers from the palm oil industry joined these highly interactive workshops. Participants had the opportunity to engage in practical exercises and explore case study analyses to equip them with the skills necessary to address and resolve grievances effectively within their own operations and supply chain. The session also allowed industry peers to network and share the latest updates and trends impacting their work on worker rights in Malaysia.
Participants also shared their own challenges, experiences, and questions. In both workshops, participants emphasized the need for grievance mechanisms to be worker-centric and accessible to all levels of workers. The workshop discussions also highlighted the importance of consultation with stakeholders and rights holders in the resolution process.
The aim of the joint effort between Positive Palm Project (Project P3, a project under CGF HRC) and MY Voice is to share tools and best practices to guide palm oil companies in Malaysia in developing and implementing robust grievance mechanisms that meet international standards, such as the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights.
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