BSCI 2.0: Workers involvement and protection

Veronica RUBIO – 8 APRIL 2015

Webcast BSCI 2.0 series

WEBCAST TOPIC DATE START TIME AND LINKS

Overview of Changes + Decent Working Hours

10/02/2015 10h00 AM CET

PPT downloaded here

Fair Remuneration 25/02/201510h00 AM CET

( 30 minutes + 30 Q&A)

No Precarious Employment  9/03/201510h00 AM CET

( 30 minutes + 30 Q&A)

Ethical business behaviour  23/03/201510h00 AM CET

( 30 minutes + 30 Q&A)

Webcast BSCI 2.0 series

WEBCAST TOPIC DATE START TIME AND LINKS

Workers Involvement and Grievance Mechanisms for 

Producers8/04/2015 

10h00 AM CET

( 30 minutes + 30 Q&A)

No Child Labour and Special Protection for Young Workers

20/04/2015 10h00 AM CET

( 30 minutes + 30 Q&A)

Zero Tolerance Protocol04/05/2015 10h00 AM CET

( 30 minutes + 30 Q&A)

Assessing Social Audits from other systems

18/05/2015 10h00 AM CET

( 30 minutes + 30 Q&A)

http://www.bsci-intl.org/members/empowering-material

Learning Objectives

• What does workers involvement mean? • Why is it important?• How is workers involvement verified?• How do BSCI Participants benefit from BSCI 2.0?

Recap from the previous webcasts

– Two major external events triggered the change towards BSCI 2.0

– The changes are reflected in the new audit approach

The overall Rating

RATING

A Outstanding

B Good

C Acceptable

D Insufficient

E Unacceptable

Zero Tolerance

Child LabourBonded Labour and Inhumane TreatmentOccupational Health and Safety (imminent and significant threat)Unethical behaviour

It triggers the BSCI Zero Tolerance Protocol

Workers Involvement

and Protection

Workers involvement

• From the Occupational Health and Safety risk‐assessment perspective, workers involvement safe money and makes operations more secure

• From Human Resources’ perspective, workers involvement:– It is not a goal nor a tool– It is rather a management and leadership philosophy

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What does workers involvement mean?

It directly relates to responsible business practiceIt is an strategic decision that includes:

• Suggestion systems• Workers recognition• Work teams• Periodic discussion with supervisor• Workers committees• Grievance Mechanism• Remediation process

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Why is it important?

• Productivity• Retention of good workforce• Lower accident rate• Lower rate of conflicts

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Workers Involvement

and Protection

Workers Involvement and Protection

Information in the workplace

Training of workers and managers

Grievance mechanism

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Post the BSCI Code, working rules, working contract, etc.

Supervisors, workers representatives and workers should know their rights and obligations in the workplace

To address failures in the implementation of the above and other grievances in the workplace/surrounding communities

BSCI Performance Area on Workers Involvement and protection

• Sound information exchange on workplace issues• Long‐term goals for protecting workers in line with the BSCI 

Code• Specific steps to make workers aware of their rights and 

responsibilities• Build capacities to successfully embed workers involvement 

and protect them• Establishes or participates in an effective grievance 

mechanism for individuals and communities

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What does an effective grievance mechanism mean?

Day Month 2014 www.bsci‐intl.org 14

Reality check

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Would you like to know what workers are thinking?

Information management

Day Month 2014 www.bsci‐intl.org 16

Doubts or misinformation generate discontent

Learning

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It can be simply about the possibility to suggest improvements

Anticipating

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It's much easier to prevent a strike than to handle its consequences

What is a Grievance?A grievance is any concern, unhappiness or discontent that a worker might have in the workplace. A grievance can fall under any of the following categories:

Human rights Labour rights Customary rights

e.g. discrimination e.g. overtime not paid premium

e.g. Traditional holiday is disrespected

Infrastructure Personal relations Contractual rights

e.g.  the space given is insufficient to conduct the work safely

e.g. a supervisor uses abusive language

e.g. remuneration is paid systematically later than the agreed day.

What is a Grievance Mechanism?

A “Grievance Mechanism” is a process that can be used by individuals, workers or communities when they are negatively affected by certain business activities and operations

Legitimate

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- Supported by procedures- Management and workers are trained

Accessible

- The procedures, the forms and the system (box or other) should be known and available to the workers

Transparent

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Everybody should be able to see that the system is working

Starts with dialogue

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The aim is to talk to each other and agree on a solution

How is it monitored?

Workers involvement and protection

Documentary evidenceInterviews

What does the law say?

Effectiveness

Coherency

o Structures to exchange information on work related issues

o Workers and supervisors are regularly trained

o Written procedure for grievance mechanism

o Qualified and neutral person in charge

o Regular satisfaction survey

o Seasonal workerso Part time workerso Piece-rate workerso In a probationary

periodo Hired through

agencies

Workers involvement and protection

Number Question RATING Evidence

MI WI WRI DE SO

2.1Is there satisfactory evidence that the auditee has good management practices that involve workers and their representatives in sound information exchange on workplace issues?

2.2Is there satisfactory evidence that the auditee defines long‐term goals for protecting workers in line with the aspirations of the BSCI Code of Conduct?

2.3Is there satisfactory evidence that the auditee takes specific steps to make workers aware of their rights and responsibilities?

2.4Is there satisfactory evidence that the auditee builds sufficient competence among managers, workers and workers representatives to successfully embed responsible practices in the business operation?

2.5Is there satisfactory evidence that the auditee has established, or participates in, an effective operational‐level grievance mechanism for individuals and communities?

Documentary evidenceInterviews

What does the law say?

…in your view

Can a producer have good social performance without involving its workers?

QUESTIONS

Thank you!Thank you!

Veronica RubioBSCI Senior Manager Strategic Issuesveronica.rubio@bsci‐intl.orgTel: + 32 (0) 2 741 64 73

NEW BSCI Code of conduct: Excellence is a habit