The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is seeking feedback on redrafted versions of three of its standards around employment practices and working conditions.
In what the body calls a ‘major’ review of all its labour-related standards, a global public comment period is now open for GRI 402: Labour/Management Relations, GRI 401: Employment, and GRI 202: Market Presence.
The draft disclosures, either new or revised, relate to three areas. The first covers non-standard forms of employment, fair recruitment and personal data protection and privacy among others; the second covers remuneration and working time around policies and metrics of cost of living estimates, along with ‘basic’ gender pay gap; while the third looks at ‘significant changes’ for workers, be they consultation and notice periods, upskilling and reskilling, or termination of employment.
According to KPMG’s 2022 survey of sustainability reporting, more than three quarters (78%) of the world’s 250 largest companies, and more than two thirds (68%) of the leading 5,800 companies in the world who report on sustainability use GRI standards.
The project to revise topic standards for labour began in 2022 after approval from the Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB), an independent operating entity under the auspices of GRI which helps develop GRI standards.
GRI noted a strong support cast of advisors for this process, with representation from workers’ groups (International Trade Union Confederation, Global Unions Federations) and employers (International Organisation of Employers), as well as the International Labour Organisation (ILO). A key goal of the review is to ensure GRI labour standards are ‘fully aligned with key intergovernmental instruments for business and human rights’, including that of the ILO, the United Nations, and the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development).
In total, GRI says 11 standards are under the microscope as part of this process. Training and Education (404), Diversity and Equal Opportunity (405), Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining (407), Child Labour (408), and Forced or Compulsory Labour (409) are among those which will follow.
Carol Adams, chair of GSSB, said that revising labour-related disclosures was a ‘high priority’ for the board given ‘widespread recognition of the need for organisations to do more to protect human and labour rights and ensure decent conditions and treatment of workers.’
Read more: GRI and IFRS Foundation join forces to support businesses with disclosure
