Voices, Insights and Action
“ Without workers there are no value chains. And without meaningful worker engagements, there are no sustainable value chains. So in order to have sustainable value chains, meaningful worker engagement is crucial. ”
Natalie den Breugom de Haas Sustainable Economic Development Departm., Ministry of Foreign Affairs
“ Different perspectives allowed us to have an interactive and good discussion about how to get insights into the value chain and how to make an impact. ”
Lance Coseart, ESG Lead at Stedin
Audit, certification and supplier data provide only part of the information companies need. The Fair Work Monitor adds direct feedback from workers, helping businesses uncover blind spots and understand what is happening deeper in their supply chains.
“ Opportunities are: stronger relationships with suppliers, to spot risks and have better insights into supply chains, which make companies more resilient. ”
Marhijn Visser, Deputy Director International Affairs VNO-NCW
Worker data becomes valuable when it supports decisions. Participants highlighted how structured evidence can improve risk management, guide conversations with suppliers and help companies develop focused action plans.
It also allows trade unions to negotiate on the basis of robust, objective information rather than isolated examples.
“ "Decent work is only possible when the voice of workers is heard by all actors in the world of work" ”
Adriana Guarnizo, Programme Coordinator CNV Internationaal in Colombia
The Fair Work Monitor is built around meaningful worker engagement. Workers and local trade unions contribute to data collection, help interpret the findings and use the results in social dialogue. This participatory approach builds trust and ensures that the data reflects workers’ lived realities.
“ Fair work monitoring helps us to have more robust data and a more systematic approach. We know exact numbers and it's very useful for the negotiations that we conduct at company level. ”
Samuel Guiltom, strategic advisor Indonesia
Examples from palm oil, mining, textile and the sugar sector showed recurring concerns. These include wages below living needs, insecure or informal contracts, occupational health and safety risks, subcontracted workers with fewer protections and the particular vulnerability of women and young workers. The findings also show where trade union representation and social dialogue need to be strengthened.
“ When speaking with workers, unions and company management at palm oil plantations, it’s clear that challenges around contracts, occupational health and safety, and the vulnerability of women workers require shared responsibility across the value chain. ”
Suzan Cornelissen, Program Lead CNV Internationaal
“ We're so excited for future collaborations with the Fair Work Monitor where this data can be joined together with social, environmental, audit, assessment and certification data to provide a complete picture of what's happening in a factory or a region and who can work together on improvements. ”
Hannah Lenneth Program Director Open Supply Hub
No single actor holds all the information or resources needed to improve supply chains. Combining worker insights with audit, certification and environmental data can create a fuller picture. Cooperation between companies, suppliers, trade unions and data platforms can then connect evidence to local dialogue and practical improvements.
“ At the Postcode Loterij, we believe that the voices of workers deserve to be heard. They produce the food we eat, make the clothes we wear and source the materials used in our phones. ”
Stijn Boonstra, Postcodeloterij
For companies, worker insights support stronger supplier relationships, earlier identification of risks and more resilient supply chains. They also help businesses meet growing due diligence and reporting expectations.
The launch marked a first step towards wider cooperation, with a shared ambition to move beyond dashboards and use worker data to improve conditions in practice.
Thank you for joining us and for your interest in the Fair Work Monitor. If you have any questions or observations, we’d be happy to hear from you at internationaal@cnv.nl.
