Supply chain executives who celebrate achieving zero worker grievances may be overlooking critical risks that could expose their organizations to regulatory enforcement and operational disruptions, according to a new analysis from EcoVadis highlighting the dangers of silence in global value chains.
While supply chain leaders routinely pursue 'zero' metrics across operations—zero defects, zero accidents, zero delays—Antoine Heuty, SVP of Human Rights at EcoVadis, argues that zero grievances often signals systemic problems rather than operational excellence. "Silence in complex supply chains rarely signals the absence of problems," Heuty wrote in a Supply Chain Brain analysis. "In many cases, achieving zero grievances comes at a very real—and often very high—cost: workers without safe channels to speak up, risks that go undetected, and organizations operating in the dark."
Regulatory Enforcement Intensifies Risk Management Requirements
The warning comes as regulatory scrutiny of supply chain labor practices reaches unprecedented levels. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has detained thousands of shipments valued in billions of dollars under Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930, which prohibits goods made with forced labor. Meanwhile, the EU Forced Labour Regulation, effective in 2027, will add another enforcement layer with global reach.
"Regulators, investors and customers want proof that companies know what's happening on the ground; that risks are detected early, that workers can safely report concerns, and that meaningful remediation follows," Heuty explained. The evolving regulatory landscape, including the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), demands evidence-based risk detection rather than compliance checklists.
Traditional grievance mechanisms, designed primarily for direct corporate employees over the past 40 years, fall short of reaching the millions of blue-collar workers across multi-tier global value chains who face the most severe human rights risks. These workers often remain excluded or unaware of available reporting channels, leaving critical issues like wage disputes, unsafe conditions, and harassment unreported.
Digital Solutions Enable Real-Time Risk Detection
Technology companies are responding with digital grievance systems that leverage familiar communication channels. These platforms use WhatsApp integration, QR codes, and mobile web links to provide multilingual support with two-way anonymity protections, reducing retaliation fears across diverse geographical and literacy contexts.
"Digital grievance systems, accessible through familiar channels such as WhatsApp, QR codes, and mobile web links, offer scalable ways for workers to raise concerns in real time," according to the analysis. This approach complements traditional auditing by providing continuous visibility between formal review cycles.
Strategic Value of Worker Feedback Systems
Organizations that successfully implement accessible grievance mechanisms gain strategic advantages beyond regulatory compliance. Worker feedback reveals operational patterns, uncovers cultural issues, and enables constructive supplier engagement while reducing overall supply chain risk.
The shift represents a fundamental change in how supply chain leaders should interpret worker silence. High turnover, absenteeism, and other warning signals don't disappear when grievances go unreported—they simply become invisible until they manifest as larger operational or reputational crises.
Companies including Teijin Frontier have recently launched formal grievance mechanisms to protect human rights and ensure worker safety throughout their supply chains, demonstrating growing industry recognition of these systems' strategic value.
As regulatory enforcement continues intensifying and stakeholder expectations evolve, supply chain leaders face a clear choice: invest in systems that amplify worker voices and detect risks early, or operate in the dark until problems become too large to manage quietly. The cost of maintaining zero grievances, experts warn, may ultimately prove far higher than the investment required to listen.
📰 Source: This article is based on content from SupplyChainBrain.
Additional research from 5 sources consulted for context and accuracy.
