Nov 7, 2018:Nestlé today announced a collaboration with Sime Darby Plantation (SDP) to pilot a project that will help eliminate human and labor rights abuses in their shared palm oil supply chain in Malaysia. A highly enhanced helpline co-developed by the solution developer ELEVATE and Responsible Business Alliance, will allow workers to report on working conditions, recruitment, safety and other labor issues.
The robust helpline is the first of its kind in the palm oil sector and it builds on previous work in the manufacturing sector in Malaysia. It also utilizes ELEVATE’s cutting edge Laborlink mobile worker survey platform, which aims to assess actual and potential human rights risk, deliver mitigation plans, and track effectiveness of actions taken.
Technology-enabled communication channels will allow workers to voice their concerns through channels that are most appropriate for them. These channels include SMS, Facebook Messenger or a toll-free number accessible seven days a week during peak call times, with after-hours messaging options. Workers’ issues will then be handled via clear protocols with consistent attention to follow-up and resolution of issues. The objective is to significantly reduce the risk of human and labor rights abuses by giving workers an opportunity to report issues directly to trained helpline officers.
Magdi Batato, Nestlé Executive Vice President, Head of Operations, said: “This initiative marks another milestone in the implementation of the Nestlé action plan on labor rights in palm oil (pdf, 400Kb). We are very clear that human and labor rights abuses have no place in Nestlé’s supply chain. This is why we are committed to tackling this issue and helping drive positive change in the palm oil sector.”
“We are working alongside other stakeholders including suppliers and we believe these ongoing efforts will help improve the lives of those affected by unacceptable practices,” he added.
