Due to the complexity of supply chain networks that involve a variety of worker migration pathways, addressing forced labor requires a multi-stakeholder effort. As the RLI is a multi-industry multi-stakeholder initiative, stakeholder engagement plays a major role in its daily work.
Since its inception in 2017, the RLI has worked, collaborated, partnered and reached out to various layers of stakeholders through the following:
- Creating partnerships with international bodies that have expertise on migrant labor issues and have convening power with governments and regulators. These include the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD);
- Conducting advocacy with governments and regulators on evolving legislation and enforcement, and developing official safeguards for migrant workers;
- Designing programs that involve collaboration between brands, suppliers, recruitment partners and workers to raise awareness, develop common tools, and build greater demand for ethical recruitment collectively; and
- Seeking advice from and creating partnerships with a variety of stakeholders, including those that are part of our multi-stakeholder steering committee to gain insights on risks and solutions.
These engagements have enriched the RLI’s understanding of forced labor and human rights through different perspectives and allowed us to gain clarity on the complexity of workers’ migration journeys and experiences, obtain up-to-date international labor regulations and standards and share expertise and best practices with other business partners.
