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FLA Toolbox: Conflict Settlement and Grievance Procedure

1. Key Data
Origin of the Initiative

Fair Labour Association (FLA)

Year of Development

2008

Accessibility

Restricted to membership, registration needed

Availability

contact FLA

Language

English

Contact

 info@fairlabor.org;  trainingportal@fairlabor.org;  assessmentportal@fairlabor.org

Website

 http://ap.fairlabor.org/en

 

2. Aim and Function of the Tool
Type

Self-Assessment, Human Rights Training

Specific Focus

Grievance Mechanism

Aim

The tool measures factory performance in allowing and managing grievances and complaints. It assesses factors such as policy, procedure, training, implementation, communication, documentation, workers' integration and awareness.

Function

The toolkit proposes a three step grievance management system:

 

Step 1: Know the situation at your workplace through:

  • Management self- assessment tool
  • Workers survey

 

Step 2: Capacity Building, via:

  • Face to face course
  • E-course

 

Step 3: Evaluate changes you put in place through:

  • Progress charts
  • Management self-assessment
  • Workers survey tool

 

The management self-assessment on grievance procedures is a quantitative tool with a range of multiple choice questions. The data generated display a factory's compliance score at a glance.

 

The workers' survey follows a standardised and quantitative survey design. Interviews are anonymous. The results can be directly compared to the results from the management self-assessment. A factory's progress in capacity building is indicated by the progress charts. Self-assessments and a workers' survey are repeated after approx. 12 months.

 

Trainings are offered and can be accessed through the FLA Training Portal or through a live training session. Through exercises, case studies, and an analysis of real grievance procedures and different theoretical explanations, participants will gain a better understanding of different concepts and principles.

The course is divided into three sections:

  1. General aspects of conflict management
  2. Mediation, dialogue and consensus building
  3. Design of a formal grievance process
Monitoring

Yes, the process is supported by FLA experts, company progress is regularly assessed.

Target Group

Companies

3. Practicability and Flexibility
Business Sector

All sectors

Region

All regions

Company Size

All sizes (small, medium and large)

Case Studies/Good Practice

Yes, in a training session or through the FLA Training Portal

Interactivity

The possibility for interaction is provided through the training and assessment portal and through live training sessions.

Human Rights Knowledge Required

No

Flexibility

No. Currently fixed tool with a range of multiply choice questions (FLA will upgrade online usage beginning 2011 which will allow to customize and filter the tools to suit the users needs)

4. Normative Framework
Human Rights

  • Universal Declaration on Human Rights
Labour Rights

  • ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work,
  • Other relevant ILO conventions
National Laws

Compliance with national laws and regulations in the country of operation

5. Scope of the Tool
Human Rights

Productive and freely chosen work

Right to work

Prohibition of forced or compulsory labour

Prohibition of child labour

 

Rights at work including the core labour standards

Right to equal treatment and non-discrimination between women and men, gender issues

Right to equal treatment and non-discrimination concerning all other groups

Diversity Management

Right to education

Right to safe and healthy working conditions

Right to fair wages

Right to equal pay for equal work

Right to decent living

Right to rest, leisure and annual leave

Right to reasonable limitation of working hours

Right to permanent employment relationship

Right to privacy

Right to strike

Right to form and join trade unions

Grievance procedures and remediation

 

Social protection

Right to social security including social insurance, pensions

Mitigation of adverse employment effects

 

Social dialogue

Freedom of association and right to collective bargaining

Tripartite consultation

 

External impact

Right to an adequate standard of living

Security issues, private property protection

Right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health

Keywords

  • Capacity / capability building
  • Conflict
  • Corporate- / organisational culture
  • Dispute resolution
  • Grievance mechanism
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Training, skills and talent
6. Company Responsibility
Concepts of Sphere of Influence, Complicity

No

Supply Chain

No

Human Rights Impact Assessment

No

Specific Guidance on Individual(Company)Responsibility

No

8. Concluding Evaluation
LARRGE Evaluation

The FLA toolbox on conflict settlement and grievance procedures provides a very specific tool for establishing a culture of conflict resolution and management within a company. It is based on the broad stakeholder involvement of workers and management, and is therefore a valuable tool for sustainable conflict management.

Use the toolbox to identify your company's status and performance, and for improving through continuous learning and training.

User Evaluation