Woolworths Group is committed to providing access to channels through which adversely affected people or communities, including external individuals and communities, can raise complaints or concerns without fear of retaliation, intimidation, harassment, discrimination or victimisation. This commitment extends to the work of human rights defenders, and the expectation they can operate in a safe and respectful environment across all our operations. The Group provides a Speak Up service for our team members and suppliers (and their workers) as a mechanism by which responsible sourcing and human rights concerns can be raised confidentially and, if desired, anonymously.
Supplier Speak Up can be accessed by workers in a number of different languages and we provide suppliers with communication tools to reach workers in a language they understand. The following posters have been designed for suppliers in different countries with key messages translated into the languages of key migrant worker groups.
Australian suppliers can download the poster for their sites here>
Malaysian suppliers can download the poster for their sites here>
Bengali suppliers can download the poster for their sites here>
Thai suppliers can download the poster for their sites here>
Chinese suppliers can download the poster for their sites here>
Vietnamese suppliers can download the poster for their sites here>
We are committed to working with our suppliers to ensure appropriate grievance mechanisms are made available within their own supply chains. You can read more information on the Speak Up website and in the Supplier Speak Up FAQs.
With suppliers in many countries, we acknowledge there are different socio-cultural barriers that may prevent vulnerable workers from raising concerns, either directly with their employer (our supplier) or the Group. We know there is always more work to do to strengthen our grievance response. We will continue to review our grievance mechanisms and processes to strengthen them and improve their effectiveness. At the same time, we will continue to raise supplier awareness of the eight characteristics of an effective grievance process outlined by the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (known as the UNGPs).
It is important to us that effective remedies are available for affected people and communities where it is identified that our activities or business relationships have caused or contributed to adverse impacts. These remedies may be provided through direct engagement with affected people and communities, or in collaboration with our suppliers or other third parties.
Our Human Rights Grievance Process provides further detail on our approach to conducting investigations and is based on international best practice for managing human rights grievance investigations, specifically UNGP 31.