The Ethical Supply Chain Program (ESCP) is celebrating its 15th anniversary and reaching a milestone figure. Since its inception in 2010, the ESCP Worker Helpline has assisted 10 million supply chain workers and most recently held its annual Worker Well-Being Conference in Shenzhen, China, uniting workers, employers, funders and implementing partners to work together to improve workforce well-being.
The helpline is a confidential service. ESCP has implemented this service for thousands of companies. All ESCP certified supplier members are now required to comply with this regulation. Non-ESCP member companies can also use the helpline as a customized stand-alone service.
“Providing employees with a trusted mechanism to raise their concerns is critical to maintaining a healthy and happy workplace. Over the past 15 years, we have seen the helpline used in a variety of ways,” said CEO of the Ethical Supply Chain Project and President Carmel Giblin said. “People access it to get more information about factory policies and regulations, to more serious complaints about management attitudes, wage theft, and reporting child labor. We’ve even had people suffering from loneliness use it as a human connection. A source of engagement. It’s stories like these that make me incredibly proud of this latest milestone and the number of people this service has impacted. I look forward to expanding access to our helpline, strengthening protections for workers, and providing insights to employers. Improvements needed to achieve labor standards.
A helpline includes setting up a dedicated phone line, on-site support to activate the service, and introductions to the staff operating the service to gain the trust of the staff using the service. The Personal Grievance Mechanism has resolved 23,000 cases, providing consultation, providing advice and helping employees resolve work and personal problems.
“Grievance mechanisms can be very effective in helping to identify and resolve issues before they escalate,” explains Christina Liu, Responsible Sourcing Product Integrity Manager at Hallmark Cards. “Workers may be afraid to file grievances due to fear of retaliation or foreseeable consequences. Working with a third-party provider is a great way to build trust in the grievance pipeline and build a better workplace. This often results in lower turnover rates. and increases employee satisfaction because employees feel heard and cared about.
