In a significant move toward sustainability and social responsibility, the European Union (EU) Parliament has passed and is considering multiple new pieces of legislation that signal a new way of operating for the global businesses with third party suppliers. This legislation is designed as the social component of the Green New Deal , not only to enhance the sustainability of products but also to ensure ethical practices throughout global value chains—from brands and manufacturers to end consumers. Overview of new EU Legislation The EU's legislative framework includes several key components: Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) :   This directive requires companies to identify, prevent, and mitigate adverse human rights and environmental impacts within their operations and their entire value chain. This provides guidance for “how” companies should operate in order to align with new reporting requirements such as ERFS and CSRD. Forced Labour Goods Ban (Effective from 2027) :   This upcoming ban emphasizes the EU's commitment to eradicating forced and child labor in supply chains, prohibiting the export from or sale in the EU of goods produced under such conditions. Right to Repair Directive : Extending the lifespan of products through repairability, this directive mandates suppliers to offer repair services for goods long after their sale. Ecodesign for Sustainable Product Regulation (ESPR) :   Aimed at making sustainable products the norm, this regulation sets stringent criteria for the design and production of goods, focusing on durability and recyclability.   Nearly Every Company is Impacted While the laws directly apply roughly 9,400 EU companies and 2,600 non-EU companies and expanding to another 4,800 companies in year two, the impact will be felt globally throughout all of these companies’ vast supply chains.  Transformational for Global Supply Chains The amalgamation of these regulations will lead to a transformative shift in the way companies source products. The implications are profound and will require a fundamental change in the way global companies operate. The laws are so far-reaching and expansive it will take decades for companies to catch up and all the impacts to be felt. In the short term these laws will result in brands being risk adverse and conducting traditional due diligence, but that approach will quickly prove insufficient. CSDDD is impactful, "because it deals with the way the supply chain is actually mandated to collaborate in order to deal with the other topic specific environmental and social laws. From a manufacturers’ point of view, a correctly implemented CSDDD is what stands between a tough but collaborative approach to industry transition and an exploding list of demands for investments, improvements, data and assurances,'" explained, the International Apparel Federation's secretary general Matthijs Crietee in an interview with Just Style . Crietee underscores the potential of CSDDD to shift the industry from a compliance-based to a due diligence-based approach, which is more likely to achieve meaningful results. "CSDDD not only means that manufacturers get a better deal, the entire industry should be better off moving from a compliance-based to a due diligence-based approach because it is simply better equipped to achieve results." Challenges lie ahead, particularly in balancing the implementation of CSDDD with other laws like the EU's forced labor act. These two laws seemingly govern many of the same activities and could end up coming into conflict with each other or result in brands and retailers pushing in the direction of transferring risk towards their suppliers. The EU's ESG legislation represents a pivotal turning point for the supply chains, setting a precedent for other regions and sectors. As companies navigate this new regulatory landscape, they must adopt more integrated and proactive approaches to sustainability and social responsibility.

Labor Solutions’ Worker Survey technology was designed specifically for complex supply chains. Flexible deployment methods and aggregated data sets allows for companies sourcing from a diverse set of suppliers to deploy a multilingual survey to all workers and collect comparable and aggregate data sets quickly. Buyers are able to track data by supplier, country and globally to better understand worker needs. Reports are instantly shared with suppliers to help them quickly address concerns. In September, on behalf of adidas, Labor Solutions deployed a worker pulse survey to 350,000 workers in 125 factories in 17 countries and languages at once. Workers were given four weeks to respond. adidas was able to collect nearly 70,000 responses from workers. The adidas worker pulse survey results in an Employee Net Promotor Score (eNPS) for each individual supplier. Both adidas and the factories us the score better understand work sentiment, engagement and wellbeing. The survey is planned to be sent to workers every six months and results are used by the suppliers and adidas to better capture workers' satisfaction levels and determine improvement opportunities. The eNPS is central to adidas' worker empowerment program and the scores contribute to the adidas social compliance key performance indicator (CKPI). Hearing directly from workers allows adidas to have a more holistic view of supplier performance and ensure worker safety and wellbeing throughout their supply chain. About Labor Solutions Labor Solutions, an impact-focused business, leverages technology to connect , engage and educate workers to build resilient supply chains. Over a million and a half workers in 25 countries have access to Labor Solutions’ worker engagement platform, WOVO . Workers can respond to worker surveys, report grievances and access eLearning modules on rights and responsibilities.

WOVO has “sizeable economic returns” for businesses, concludes an academic study conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. The randomized control trial took place in two factories at Shahi Exports – a large garment manufacturer in India. The study was made possible through a collaboration between Labor Solutions, The Children’s Place , Good Business Lab and Shahi Exports. Researchers asked: Does giving workers a voice – enabling direct communication of grievances and concerns with employers – impact workplace behavior and exit decisions? To answer this question, researchers randomly placed 7,500 workers at two Shahi factories into two groups: [Treatment group] The first group received training on the service and received SMS reminders encouraging them to use the service. [Control Group] The second group received no training nor any kind of encouragement to use WOVO. Ethically, they weren’t stopped from using it but were not formally introduced to the tool or encouraged to use it. The study measured three important workplace behaviors: retention, absenteeism, and productivity. Over the course of seven months, only five percent of workers in the treatment group used WOVO to proactively ask a question, suggest or make a report to management. Still, business and worker outcomes drastically improved , suggesting that the mere availability of WOVO is enough to improve worker engagement and improve the bottom line. In the paper’s conclusion, researchers found that “simply knowing it is possible to communicate concerns effectively, even if concerns arise only sporadically, increases worker utility enough to change workplace outcomes.” The Report’s Rate of Return Calculation Section stated: “Attendance and retention benefits totaled about 25,000 USD , implying a net rate of return of approximately 52%.” Workers in the treatment group were 5% less likely to be absent than workers in the control group. Workers and management found WOVO to be easy to use and that it brought a positive change in the work culture. Almost all workers owned a phone or had access to a phone. However, only 50% had a smartphone, indicating that in India SMS continues to be a critical functionality to make available to workers in WOVO facilities. The study showed that investing in worker voice technologies, such as WOVO, can drive long term profits by reducing costly worker turnover and absenteeism. Read more on ApparelResources.com ---- About Labor Solutions Labor Solutions, an impact-focused business, leverages technology to connect , engage and educate workers to build resilient supply chains. Over a million and a half workers in 25 countries have access to Labor Solutions’ worker engagement platform, WOVO . Workers can respond to worker surveys, report grievances and access eLearning modules on rights and responsibilities. For more information on how you can proactively identify your supply chain risks via WOVO and actually remediate them, get in touch with Labor Solutions at info@laborsolutions.tech .

2022 was a pivotal year for supply chain human rights due diligence . Globally, governments, investors and consumers are demanding more corporate accountability for human rights. These new mandates have increased global awareness of the importance rigorous programs protect and monitor human rights throughout supply chains and highlighted the faults of many existing tools. At Labor Solutions, we are energized by the global wake up call. We saw new stakeholders come to the table to discuss the social impact of businesses and salient human rights issues effecting supply chains. Labor Solutions’ tried and tested tools proved to be key to helping companies reach and go beyond new due diligence requirements. As a result, our business doubled. Labor Solutions Tools Are Now In the Hands of More Workers Than Any Other Tool in the Industry Labor Solutions tools are unique in the industry. Our subscription model means, once implemented, workers have ongoing, unlimited access to tools to help them be heard, empowered and provide them with access to key information. Now 1.5 million workers have active access to our tools. Over 90% of clients return annually. And in 2022 a majority of Labor Solutions’ clients increased the number of sites and workers covered by WOVO . As a result, by the end of 2022, more workers around the world feel heard and are educated, protected, and respected at their workplaces. A million workers now have access to safe and anonymous channel to ask a question, give a suggestion or report a concern. Over 250,000 cases were closed with a 88% satisfaction rating. Nearly 150,000 learning sessions were completed on rights and responsibilities, professional growth and personal wellbeing (on WOVO-- even more were completed outside of WOVO through our partners) Surveyed over a million workers globally 24 New Courses from Partners and Industry Leaders Added in 2022 Labor Solutions partnered with organizations like Better Work , FiftyEight , the Ethical Trade Initiative, ICRW and Arup + Kindling to digitizing courses, reducing duplication and amplifying industry-leading content. Labor Solutions released 24 new eLearning courses, including a set of core eLearning courses on Fair Working Conditions , Gender Equity , Responsible Recruitment and customized eLearning, equipping workers with necessary knowledge to be safe at workplace. Proven, Local Results: Our Favorite Case Studies from 2022 We pride ourselves on being able to provide global data, and local results. By educating and empowering individual facilities, direct, impactful change is being made on the ground. We heard lots of stories of success this year, our team gathered to discuss some of our favorites. Read our discussion here . 75% More Workers Returned to Factories Using WOVO after Factory Closures in Vietnam Burmese Garment Workers Want to be Heard, Finds Several Labor Solutions’ Surveys Educating Workers on Rights and Responsibilities is Key to a Functioning Grievance Mechanism Easier to Use, Simplified Design to Support Massive Scale: 2022 Product Updates To help our clients scale and meet the global mandates, in 2022, Labor Solutions focused on building systems, data sets and tools to help clients scale to thousands of supplier sites and cover millions of workers. Read how our team improved access to reach more workers across a more diverse population, added security features to protect workers in high-risk places, added data filters to help users understand specific demographic needs and more. What’s Ahead for 2023: Going Deeper into the Supply Chain to Reach More Workers + Integrating Data with ESG to Effect More Change In 2023, Labor Solutions continues to be committed to our mission to reduce supply chain risks by educating, connecting and engaging workers and suppliers. We believe stakeholders at all levels have a role to play in creating real change for workers. That's why we've built tools that engage all parties. We know in order to drive change the right people have to have the right data. To that end, in 2023, we'll focus on building more data connections and pathways to make integrating our data into ESG and traceability platforms and datasets easier, like we have with our partners Open Supply Hub . We'll also continue our thought leadership to define and measure the “S” in ESG and help investors, buyers and others define the role of worker engagement and voice in ESG. While we've made great strides in amplifying the voices of workers. Millions of workers and stakeholders go unheard. In 2023, we'll focus on digging deeper into the supply chain to capture the voice of everyone, through projects like our current partnership with Rainforest Alliance ’s LandScale Project. Data is a starting place, but data isn't enough. So, as we have for the last decade, in 2023, Labor Solutions will continue to go beyond technology and ensure successful and sustainable implementations through advisory services aimed at supporting and enabling social eco-systems. Our goal is to not only help companies meet corporate due diligence laws but to affect change and improve lives. We look forward to continued innovation and expansion in 2023. As always, we are thankful for our brand, supplier and multi-stakeholder partners who have supported our success thus far. Labor Solutions, an impact-focused business, leverages technology to connect , engage and educate workers to build resilient supply chains. Over a million and a half workers in 25 countries have access to Labor Solutions’ worker engagement platform, WOVO .

In developing the WOVO platform to address supply chain social sustainability, a primary emphasis was placed on the seamless integration of our tools. Our primary stakeholders; workers, suppliers, and brands already utilize various software and applications. WOVO needed to be simple, useful, and be a centralized hub of information. WOVO's four flagship tools are; WOVO Educate, WOVO Connect, WOVO Engage, and WOVO Improve.  Together these tools provide suppliers and brands with worker engagements, insights on their supply chain, and improvement plans for their social issues within their value chains. Coupled with our experienced implementation and advisory team WOVO has become one of the most trusted platforms by the workers in the industry, an all-in-one solution for suppliers and brands to improve their social and human rights performance. To maximize efficiency, use all WOVO’s tools together. Here’s how: Listen to Your Workers + Fix Issues WOVO Connect is the tool that enables suppliers (direct employers of the workers) and brands to listen to worker voices + get insights into value chains. Workers can anonymously voice their concerns through various communication channels (app, WeChat, WhatsApp, SMS, browser) of WOVO Connect and suppliers then can manage and action these concerns easily through a case management dashboard, which enables an auditable trail of communications plus powerful analytics. Brands, on the other hand, see data from WOVO Connect on their global dashboard, enabling real-time + transparent aggregated data of worker voices to identify issues early and to provide support to suppliers for remedy + prevention. Coupling WOVO Connect with WOVO Educate can drastically increase its efficiency, both to increase engagement and to prevent issues. In 2022, an Indonesian footwear manufacturer started implementing eLearning lessons for workers on “Understanding Grievances” and “Workplace Health + Safety”. The lessons explained health and safety standards and the importance of workers speaking up to help solve issues quickly. Immediately, Connect’s utilization increased—there was a 50% increase in the number of health and safety messages and reports; including reports of smoking, the need for new protective gloves, and insect infestations. The following quarter saw a 124% increase in the number of health and safety reports, indicating that the workers now understand and trust the grievance mechanism. WOVO Connect is more than a grievance management platform. The worker feedback can be an early indicators of larger issues within the production line. Deploying a targeted survey using WOVO Engage around the issue can provide more insights and understanding of the issues. For example, a factory in Vietnam receiving complaints about the canteen food decided to proactively reach out to workers and ask targeted questions to gain a better understanding. Armed with more information via WOVO Engage, the factory was able to increase workers’ satisfaction by 25% and increase production by 15% due to the complete elimination of absenteeism due to food-borne illness. Leveraging Worker Surveys to Prevent + Improve Social Issues WOVO Engage is a worker survey tool that is designed specifically for complex supply chains; enabling brands and suppliers to 1) design worker surveys based on localized risks, 2) deploy the surveys through WOVO’s multiple channels 3) get access to workers' opinions directly and 4) easily build reports + share with stakeholders. WOVO Engage ultimately gives real-time, structured feedback + insights from workers to make improvements around their wellbeing. Our standardized surveys such as; Nike’s Employee Engagement & Wellbeing Survey and Social and Labor Convergence Program (SLCP) Worker Engagement surveys give consistent + comparable data for benchmarking. During the economic downturn, an apparel manufacturer was facing challenges in meeting workers’ compensation satisfaction. Despite the recent increase in wages, the manufacturer was still receiving low scores from the workers in their standardized surveys. We co-designed a targeted survey to gather specific information on compensation and personal/family needs; aiming to capture not just monetary benefits, but also additional benefits + resources to aid workers facing these challenges. The survey showed that the workers lacked financial knowledge and faced high financial costs with childcare. Through WOVO Educate, the factory launched a financial literacy program, covering topics on savings, managing expenses, financial planning + more. These improvement actions + factory's commitment to open a child-care center resulted in a 23% increase in workers’ compensation satisfaction and an overall increase in their financial savings + planning. [ Read how one factory used WOVO Engage + WOVO Educate to reduce fire safety accidents by 80% ] Worker Surveys combined with WOVO Connect can also result in improved worker well-being and improved compliance with new Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) regulations. A factory in India conducted a survey and saw that 30% of the workers noted that the workplace negatively affected their health. A further inquiry revealed that the low workstations were the root cause, but the workers were too hesitant to report the issues. The factory immediately made ergonomic improvements at the workstation and implemented WOVO Connect. It was set up as a highly accessible and safe channel for workers to speak about their concerns directly with the management. Six months after these improvements,the factory saw a 44% reduction in the reporting of negative health impact and 33 points increase in their health and safety satisfaction. An Ecosystem of Tools to Engage, Connect, Educate, and Improve Worker's Lives By using this ecosystem of tools in combination WOVO can provide you with more effective usage of the grievance mechanisms, more transparent + accurate data, and a better understanding of the issues happening within your value chain. The integrated tools can also help you prevent further risks and take action to communicate and make improvements with the workers. These contextualized data are also used in our automated improvement plans provided to the suppliers through WOVO Improve. The suppliers are given a customized plan with a checklist of to-dos, access to resources via the marketplace, and recommended specific eLearning lessons to make improvements. If suppliers need support, our advisory team will provide hands-on consultation to make meaningful changes in their production lines, ultimately improving workers’ lives and increasing businesses’ bottom line. [ Read how WOVO can contribute to sizeable economic returns for businesses. ]

2023 has been a year filled with client success and regulatory change. In 2023 Labor Solutions reached more workers than ever. We built new partnerships and launched updated products. Meanwhile, HRDD laws continue to emerge and take shape globally. Here are our top reads of 2023; Top Case Studies of 2023 Worker Survey: Capturing the Voice of Community Stakeholders with Rainforest Alliance Labor Solutions' tools have proven effective globally - spanning manufacturing, packaging, and mining supply chains. This collaboration with LandScale, led by Rainforest Alliance and partners, integrated human rights and development data in worker survey data sets. WOVO Engage was deployed across whole geographic regions, not just specific agricultural supply chains and facilities. Read more Educating Workers on Rights + Responsibilities Key to a Functioning Grievance Mechanism In 2020, an Indonesian footwear manufacturer introduced WOVO Connect , a grievance management tool. While widely used for inquiries about leave, production targets, and salaries, it saw limited messages to the human resource team regarding health, safety, and other critical issues. In 2022, we deployed an eLearning course on "Understanding Grievances and Health + Safety" - which led to a 50% immediate increase in health and safety reports, followed by a notable 124% surge the next quarter, signaling heightened worker trust in the system and management. Read more Supporting Workers’ Financial Needs — How One Company Saw a 23% Increase in Worker Satisfaction Facing challenges in worker compensation satisfaction during an economic downturn, an apparel manufacturer undertook targeted surveys focusing on compensation and personal/family needs. The findings revealed that over 80% of workers didn't plan before significant purchases and high childcare costs hindered family members from working. To address these issues, a financial literacy program via WOVO Educate was initiated - the outcome was a substantial 23% increase in workers' compensation satisfaction. Read more Top Reads of 2023 EU Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CSDDD): A Practical Guide for Businesses The EU Directive on CSDDD, commonly called the “EU Directive on Due Diligence” is a regulation that requires businesses to identify, prevent, mitigate, and account for the potential adverse human rights and environmental impacts of their operations and value chains. Read More Labor Solutions Approved as SLCP's WE-Tech Service Provider SLCP, t he Social and Labor Convergence Program , i s an industry initiative to harmonize the collection of data on working conditions and reduce the social audit burden. This year, SLCP is adding the ca pability for worker surveys  call ed WE-Tech, or worker-engagement technology, and strongly encourages it to be included in their supplier assessment. Read More Building an Effective Worker Survey Tools for Supply Chain Workers How we built an industry-leading tool and the collection of feedback from millions of workers - never needing to close a survey without reaching the determined sample size in the past decade. Read More ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Labor Solutions,  a women-owned and -led impact-focused business, leverages technology to build resilient supply chains by connecting , engaging  and educating  workers. Over 1.8 million workers in 28 countries use Labor Solutions’ worker engagement platform, WOVO Engage .  Labor Solutions’ advisory services focus on building healthy social eco-systems within companies with global supply chains that engage workers, suppliers and buyers and support and facilitate responsible business practices and protection of human rights.

Labor Solutions’ Jen Green presented the following case study on a Verite’s Panel  “Amplifying migrant workers' voices through digital solutions – a crucial challenge and delicate balance. Malaysian companies face increased scrutiny over recruitment practices and treatment of migrant workers, especially in the electronics manufacturing sector . This case study explores how one electronics manufacturer took significant steps to become a more responsible employer by leveraging WOVO's comprehensive tools, enhancing their human resources management, and improving migrant worker safety, protection and wellbeing. Context + Background A Malaysian electronics manufacturer employs approximately 4,000 workers, with 40% being migrants from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Indonesia. In response to increased buyer due diligence and growing awareness among management and workers, the company sought to leverage WOVO tools to improve its practices and address specific challenges concerning migrant workers. Challenges Lack of Systematic Workplace Risk Prevention : Despite a rigorous due diligence process for recruitment agencies, there was no systematic approach to prevent workplace risks or educate management on globally recognized standards and appropriate practices. Underutilized Grievance Mechanisms : Existing mechanisms like suggestion boxes and hotlines were underutilized due to language barriers and cultural differences, leading to insufficient insights for top management. Limited Engagement of Migrant Workers : Migrant workers were less outspoken about their needs and issues, often communicating within their own groups rather than engaging in company activities and initiatives. Solution: Implement WOVO: A Supplier-Owned Platform to Engage, Educate + Listen to Workers.  The factory decided to work with Labor Solutions to implement the WOVO Ecosystem, enabling the company to integrate human rights due diligence into human resources management and address issues holistically. All workers gained access to the WOVO platform and were able to access eLearning modules, a grievance mechanism and newsletters and updates from the factory. All in their local language.  WOVO eLearning for Managers All managers were enrolled in the following eLearning modules via the WOVO app:   ✓ Responsible Recruitment (Just Good Work) ✓ Communication for Managers WOVO eLearning for Workers : All workers were enrolled in the following eLearning modules via the WOVO app:   ✓ Responsible Recruitment (Just Good Work) ✓ Fair Working Conditions (Better Work) WOVO Connect : Grievance Mechanism : Allowed workers, especially migrants, to easily and safely report issues directly to management via various channels, including multimedia submissions. Case Management Tool : Enabled HR to view all grievances, triage issues, and respond effectively using auto-translate features and live data analysis. HR Communication Tool to Support Connect Beyond Grievances : Shared company updates in multiple languages and organized regular events to connect and engage with migrant workers. Results: Education + Ease of Access Led to Increased Migrant Worker Engagement The implementation of WOVO's solutions resulted in improved engagement between management and migrant workers, enabling proactive and effective identification and addressing of potential human rights risks: 13x Increase in Reporting: 13x more cases were submitted in the first six months post-WOVO launch,than in the whole year before WOVO 50% of cases from migrant workers. Identified Risks : Issues included excessive heat on the work floor, inadequate drinking water, poor canteen sanitation, substandard hostels, and scam calls. The Right Tools Enabled the Factory to Collect, React + Respond to Workers Better + Faster WOVO case management system provided the factory with the tools they needed to understand + remediate issues Prompt Responses : 98% of cases received a response within 48 hours. Effective Resolutions : 95% of cases were resolved within an average of six weeks, with 77% of resolutions rated satisfactory by workers. Better Data   Enabled the Factory to Address Incidents + Improve Processes Systemic Remediation + Prevention : ✓ Worker Housing Improvements ✓ Additional Manager Training ✓ Support to Help Workers Identify Scams Increased Worker Social Participation ✓ Inclusive approach to planning events, sports competitions ✓ Introduction of foods suggested by migrant workers By leveraging WOVO's comprehensive solutions, the company significantly improved the management and wellbeing of its migrant workers, highlighting the importance of responsible practices and innovative solutions in the industry.

As global supply chains evolve, the need for effective, scalable training solutions becomes more critical. WOVO eLearning addresses key industry challenges with a platform designed for supply chain workers, management and global company stakeholders while allowing for brand and industry customization. Use our expert-designed lessons for workers, line managers, and management teams, or upload your own content to ensure everyone throughout your value chain knows their rights and responsibilities on key risk topics. You can reach all your suppliers and train them on your code of conduct, supplier support and HRDD as well as handle any onboarding or repeat knowledge sharing through online training. This addresses your many current challenges working with suppliers:   Regulatory Dynamics : Rapid changes in regulations and standards require agile training solutions to keep pace with industry demands for worker safety and compliance. Scaling Issues : Traditional training methods often fall short in effectively reaching the entire supply chain, leading to heightened risks and operational costs. Creating Buy -In : A combination of in-person and online training is best for efficiency and impact. Providing both practical recommendations and ensuring that your supply chain knows “why” and how these changes can benefit them saves time creating buy-in through relationship managers. Work with us to deploy digitized lessons that can be followed up with practical workshops, site visits, or individualized supplier coaching.   WOVO eLearning Will Help: Robust Catalogue of Industry Leading Content:  To get you started and ensure workers, line managers and management teams are up to date we provide an extensive catalog of lessons on workplace safety, worker / human rights and responsible business topics developed with recognized experts.  Customizable Curricula : Tailor your training programs by adding custom content to our existing expert-designed lessons, or work with us to create bespoke lessons just for your supply chain. Add your own materials to reflect company policies and specific compliance requirements. Engaging Learning Activities : Includes a variety of interactive activities like matching, multiple choice, identifying differences, and fill-in-the-blanks to enhance learning engagement and retention. We can also produce 360 degree immersive scenarios and timed exercises to provide a realistic practice environment fo r new skills. Multimedia Integration : Easily incorporate voiceovers and video content to enrich the learning experience, making complex topics accessible and engaging. Efficient and Effective : Reach more workers in less time. eLearning has proven to increase retention rates by 200% and requires 40-60% less time compared to conventional training methods. Proven Deployment Success : Trusted by over 2.2 million users globally, demonstrating scalability and effectiveness in diverse industrial environments. One Platform for Brands Because WOVO Tools are on a single platform, you can see data from surveys, elearning and grievance tools all in one place, making it easier to understand the risk issues in your value chain and to escalate risks and concerns to the appropriate decision makers. Transform Your Supply Chain Training  Adopt WOVO eLearning to not only educate but empower your workforce and supply chain with the knowledge they need to thrive in a safe and productive environment. Our platform is your solution to the complexities of modern workforce training, ensuring that every stakeholder is aligned with your corporate ethos and operational standards. Invest in a smarter, scalable training approach with WOVO eLearning.

OVS partnered with Labor Solutions to protect workers’ rights and ensure better living and working conditions, in collaboration with our long-term production partners.  78% of workers have downloaded and are actively using WOVO. Through WOVO OVS: facilitated a direct and fluid dialogue between management of factories and workers; implemented a mechanism that allows them to submit reports and complaints directly and anonymously; monitored real-time data on possible social risks conducted worker wellbeing surveys (with a 52% response rate) After a year of implementation, the program has been expanded to twice as many factories. Read more about OVS’ Sustainability initiatives in its 2023 Human Rights Report .

Read how a leading sportswear brand used WOVO to holistically support suppliers and workers and ended up with better data and fewer audits. Background and Challenges While many of the brand's suppliers had a grievance system in place, the brand faced several challenges Transparent Data Sets: The brand was reliant on the supplier to provide data. This meant the supplier could "clean" the data, resulting in brand concerns about accuracy. Comparable Data Sets: Suppliers were manually submitting reports, using different metrics, and formatting, making it nearly impossible for the brand to see trends or compare results, or systemically integrate the data into other data systems or sets. Low Utilization Rates: Most of the suppliers were only reporting a handful of cases a year. It seemed unlikely that facilities with thousands of workers would have so few issues. The brand wondered if the issue was access or if the suppliers were hiding data. Targeted Improvement Actions: Without visibility of the baseline data, it was difficult for the brand to help suppliers improve Brand Goals One database for all worker feedback to easily access, compare + respond to data An easy way to deliver critical content to workers across their supply chain Transparent data. Accurately pinpoint each supplier's specific challenge and be able to support suppliers' improvement efforts The Solution The Tool The brand and Labor Solutions decide the best option was to start with WOVO's Connect feature and management training. Connect allows management and workers to have ongoing two-way communication. It can be used to collect questions, safety reports and suggestions. The WOVO case management system allows supplier management to sort, manage and respond to cases. The WOVO reporting dashboard allows for suppliers and their clients to track progress, ensure engagement, and quickly make changes. Planning: Clearly outline goals + expectations for suppliers The Labor Solutions team held a workshop with global and local brand representatives to clearly set expectations and create a communication strategy. Brands who do not provide clear boundaries and expectations are less likely to succeed, as suppliers, fearful of what might happen, are resistant to participate and cooperate. The brand decided to focus on the following data points: 🔗 Connect Utilization: The percentage of workers who asked a question. 📊 Types of Cases: The brand was interested in what types of questions and reports workers were making, but were clear with the suppliers that they would not be punished based on these results. ⏱️ Speed to Respond: How long it takes management to respond to a worker question or report. The brand, together with Labor Solutions held a call with the suppliers and sent an email outlining the goals and expectations of the program. Deployment 🚀 Labor Solutions Kickoff Meeting: Held for each facility to re-introduce WOVO, set clear expectations and timelines, and re-engage key stakeholders. 🛠️ LS Dashboard Training: Conducted a training with team members responsible for managing the dashboard to answer any questions about the technology. 📄 LS Provided Templates: Offered worker-facing materials, such as introductory posters and instructional videos. 🔧 Supplier-Owned Tool: WOVO is owned by the supplier, who is responsible for implementing the promotional plan. Many opted to use their weekly meetings with workers to introduce the program, supplemented by the provided materials. ⚙️ Decision Against Grievance Training: The brand and LS decided not to provide training on grievance management at this stage as most suppliers already had a grievance system in place, and management felt the existing processes were effective. 📲 Worker Engagement with WOVO: Workers at each supplier began using WOVO, and management started receiving messages in their Dashboard. The First 3 Months The first three months served as trial-and-error period for management to better understand the volume and type of messages received + for workers to build trust in the program and system. During the first three months they tested the system to better understand what type of messages to send and if management will respond appropriately. The brand also started receiving live data. But the brand decided to just observe and not to apply pressure to the suppliers. Results + Data After 3 months of usage, management started to have data + questions! LS's Client Advisors conducted a "Using Data to Create Change" seminar for suppliers. Each supplier was also given specific insights into their reports and suggestions for next steps. Many suppliers created a strategy for how best to use WOVO in their facility. One supplier saw a lot of reports about food and decided to focus the next few months on the canteen. Read their case study here. One supplier used WOVO to conduct a survey and found that workers weren't reporting safety issues because they thought it was too hard and got in the way of production. This facility decided to use WOVO to focus on safety. Read their case study here. After 6 months, the brand was able to pin-point several trends 📈 Increased Utilization Rate: On average, the brand saw a 25% utilization rate across all their suppliers, up from less than 1% before WOVO. 📊 More Data from Workers: They were receiving way more data from workers than ever before! 🏆 High Response Rates: Suppliers who responded quickly and worked to resolve issues had the highest utilization rates. 🌍 Localized Challenges: Different countries were facing different challenges. By looking at the case trends, the brand's local teams were able to focus their attention and efforts. 🤝 Seeking Support: Suppliers were more eager to seek support from the brand to solve issues. 🆘 Struggling Suppliers: Some suppliers were still struggling and needed more support. The brand enlisted Labor Solutions to support these facilities. 🚫 Neglectful Suppliers: Other suppliers were clearly deliberately neglectful of the system and flippant towards workers' concerns. These facilities required audits to better understand what other management risks were present. Brand Actions after 6 Months The brand asked Labor Solutions to conduct a workshop with the struggling suppliers on communication and grievance management. The brand decided to deploy a survey to workers to better understand their needs and concerns and add a data point to their collection. Engagement Score- the score each supplier gets based on worker responses to this question "would you recommend your supplier as a place of work to a friend or family member." Based on the results of the survey and the connect feature, the brand decided they would create several digital trainings. Brand Results after 1 Year The brand was happy with WOVO and wanted to do more with the platform. They decided to integrate WOVO utilization scores into their audit program. 🔍 Audit Triggers: Low WOVO utilization rates now trigger audits. 🛑 Opt-Out Option: Suppliers with high utilization scores can opt out of annual audits. 🎓 Training Requirement: Suppliers cannot pass an audit if they don't have at least 50% of their workers pass the digital training courses. 📊 Annual Wellbeing Survey: The brand also conducts their wellbeing survey annually now. 🔧 Corrective Action Plans: Based on WOVO reports, the brand's local teams helped suppliers to identify the issues to be focused and set up Corrective Action Plans. They also continue to refer to WOVO data when measuring suppliers' progress. 👍 Supplier Autonomy: Suppliers were happy because the tool gave them autonomy and actually made changes within their facilities. They can also share data with other clients so they don't have to use multiple platforms. The brand continues to require that strategic suppliers implement WOVO. They are excited by their results and the continued potential. Suppliers are happier, and workers are safer. ----------- Labor Solutions’ products and services support brands and retailers in reducing risks through engagement, access, and improvement. Our plug-and-play tools have been carefully designed to support our clients’ varying needs throughout the entire Worker Engagement Cycle. Our Client Advisory team helps our client’s set-up for success in each facility and country. To learn more about our tools and services click here.