Focus topics

Grievance mechanisms and access to remedy

Promoting access to grievance mechanisms and remedy is a fundamental part of corporate due diligence. Workers in the textile supply chain must have the opportunity to draw attention to grievances in the workplace in order to obtain effective remedy where necessary.

Companies should therefore ensure that workers in their supply chains have access to functioning grievance mechanisms. On the one hand, these can be internal grievance mechanisms and/or local contact points. On the other hand, they can raise complaints through internal (by the purchasing company) or cross-company (through sector and member initiatives) backup grievance mechanisms.

Particularly where those affected do not yet have access to effective grievance mechanisms, the Partnership and its members are committed to establishing new or expanding existing grievance mechanisms.

The Partnership does not have its own industry-wide grievance system, but works with established partners to promote the issue. Should the Partnership receive complaints, a pre-defined procedure will take effect.

Our projects on this focus topic

Reference Framework

Based on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for the Textile and Clothing Sector, the TextilesPartnership and its members are committed to providing access to effective grievance mechanisms and remedy for those potentially affected by adverse impacts. The effectiveness criteria set out in the UN Guiding Principles are used to assess the effectiveness of the grievance mechanisms.

The guide “Access to Remedy in cases of business-related Human Rights Abuse” published by OHCHR in 2024 serves as a guideline, too. In addition, the results of the study “Extrajudicial grievance mechanisms along global supply chains – recommendations for institutionalization, implementation and procedural design”, conducted by the European University Viadrina, and the recommendations “Enhancing effectiveness of non-state-based grievance mechanisms in cases of business-related human rights abuse”, published by the OHCHR Accountability and Remedy Project (ARP), are consulted.

In the area of grievance mechanisms and remedy, there is also a strong focus on collaboration with other initiatives. One example of this is the Collaboration Protocol with Fair Wear and Amfori for the joint handling of complaints.

Further information and links

Living wages and Purchasing Practices
Further information, frame of reference and KPI
Living wages and Purchasing Practices
Circular Economy and Climate Protection
Further information, frame of reference and KPI
Circular Economy and Climate Protection
Gender equality
Further information, frame of reference and KPI
Gender equality
Grievance Mechanisms and Remedy
Further information, frame of reference and KPI
Grievance Mechanisms and Remedy