The idea of grievance mechanisms is to enable workers in global supply chains to exercise their rights through grievances. However, a grievance mechanism can only be effective if it is made known to workers and easily accessible. Atlas A digital solution for a complaints channel designed from the workers' perspective has been built. With Atlat, complaints can be submitted by workers via an automated chat and tracked on the associated complaints platform by employees of the purchasing companies. Automated translations are intended to reduce the language barrier. Deuter, a German manufacturer of backpacks and sleeping bags, now plans to use this solution to strengthen the rights of workers further down the supply chain in Vietnam.
Important: Maintain workers’ anonymity
Workers should be able to discuss problems more openly in the chat environment than they might be able to do face-to-face with their supervisors. Furthermore, the digital complaint system allows for complete or even significant anonymity for complainants. Complaints submitted via the chatbot are processed on the Atlat complaints platform.
Co-founder of Atlat and technical director Anna Ira Hurnaus explained:
“Preserving workers’ anonymity has been our most important priority from the very beginning when developing the grievance system.”
In order to assess the acceptance of the chat tool among workers in advance, a study was conducted with workers in cooperation with the social innovation agency Schoolab Vietnam According to the company, surveyed workers expressed a desire for additional visual assistance during important steps in the chat. As a result, the communication of topics requiring explanation is now supported with animated illustrations. The Atlat team plans to continue to survey workers' concerns and feedback in the future and tailor the software design accordingly.
Digital software development meets social impact
Atalt Managing Director Joshua Ovari says about the cooperation with Deuter:
"The current state of the global economy demonstrates the relevance of global supply chains. At Atlat, we combine our passion for digital software development with social ImpactOn the one hand, our software system is designed to ensure fairness for workers. On the other hand, the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act requires companies to have functioning grievance mechanisms, and political decision-makers also seem to agree on the importance of grievance mechanisms for the upcoming European Supply Chain Act. We also want to help companies like Deuter manage compliance with workers' rights further down the supply chain and improve working conditions in supplier companies beyond legal requirements. We are proud of our cooperation with Deuter, which has been strongly characterized by a shared understanding of values since the initial exchange."
Marco Hühn, Head of Quality Management, Corporate Social Responsibility and Repair Service at Deuter, continues:
"Since Deuter has already achieved good results in monitoring worker rights among its direct production partners, our goal now is to also monitor indirect suppliers even more closely in order to fulfill our responsibility as players in global supply chains. By efficiently submitting complaints, we can respond quickly and initiate corrective measures. With Atlat, this can certainly be achieved, and we are excited to see how the first pilot projects get off to a good start."
