Publication

Business and Human Rights in Southeast and East Asia #2: A Guidekit to Operationalise Human Rights Due Diligence on Forced Labour.

Today, businesses face increasing pressure to eliminate human rights risks in their operations and practices. There is mounting evidence that adverse labor impacts can affect business operations, cause financial loss, and damage reputations.

Various approaches are currently used to gauge corporate responsibility towards human rights, ranging from voluntary initiatives to market-driven standards and regulatory frameworks. Many prominent companies and industry associations have devised and implemented their own processes for conducting human rights due diligence (HRDD). However, a noticeable shift is occurring from voluntary and market-driven practices towards stricter regulatory requirements, including the growing utilization of trade sanctions.

In our interactions with businesses, from large corporations to small- and medium-sized enterprises, we have observed a common hesitation regarding HRDD. They often express uncertainty, asking questions like “Where should we begin?” or “How do we initiate this process?”. They also express concern about the abundance of available resources, leading to confusion about which ones to prioritize.

A recurring suggestion has been to develop an accessible guide or checklist to assist businesses in embarking on their compliance journey.

Business and Human Rights in Southeast Asia #2: A GuideKit to Operationalise Human Rights Due Diligence on Forced Labour is designed to help businesses identify potential human rights risks within their operations, particularly those affecting migrant workers. We are thrilled to collaborate with our main partner, AmerBON, who initiated this project. This guide facilitates the assessment of human rights due diligence efforts across various stages, including recruitment and employment. The insights gained from this GuideKit will enable businesses to conduct more comprehensive self-evaluations and prioritize areas requiring immediate action.

To download the publication: Click here.