Hamary Awaz is a unique collaboration among three partners – Baidarie, a Pakistani civil society organization specializing in workers’ rights; LRQA, a leading global business risk and sustainability solutions provider; and the Cahn Group, a leading corporate responsibility solutions provider building effective grievance mechanisms in supply chains.
Hamary Awaz was launched in June 2023 and is currently implemented in 70 garment factories in Sindh and Punjab, covering over 172,000 workers. As of April 30, 2025, 1,262 grievances have been received from workers, on a range of issues including unpaid overtime, severance payments, failure to pay minimum wage, and harassment at the workplace.
In our ongoing efforts to strengthen worker voice and access to effective remedy, the Hamary Awaz Helpline recently hosted a Brand Roundtable to facilitate a knowledge and experience-sharing session among subscribers to the Helpline. The discussions focused on the role that brands can play to strengthen supplier commitment to grievance management and how grievance data can be used strategically to improve working conditions. Here are the key takeaways from the discussion.
1. Prioritising Trust-Building and Engagement
One of the most critical outcomes of the roundtable was the recognition that trust-building is at the heart of any effective grievance mechanism. Building trust with supplier management is crucial in order to create a conducive environment where workers can feel comfortable to raise grievances without fear of retaliation. Participants emphasised the need for regular, consistent engagement with suppliers. Clear communication about the program’s scope and expectations was also highlighted as a key factor in ensuring buy-in from suppliers.
2. Using Grievance Data to Complement Audits
The roundtable revealed that grievance data can uncover risks and issues that traditional audits often miss. Participants discussed how this data can be used to identify ‘blind spots’ and adapt audit approaches to take a more targeted and effective approach to risk identification.
3. Encouraging Transparency and Constructive Engagement
A recurring theme during the roundtable was the need to reframe grievances as opportunities for improvement rather than as negative feedback. Participants agreed that helping suppliers understand the value of worker voice data is critical for improving business practices and fostering a culture of transparency and collaboration.
4. Providing Meaningful Support to Suppliers
The roundtable also highlighted the importance of supporting suppliers to implement necessary changes. Many suppliers face financial and operational challenges in meeting brands’ expectations, and without adequate support, they may struggle to make improvements. Participants emphasised the need for brands to provide technical and capacity-building support to suppliers.
The Brand Roundtable discussions emphasized the critical role grievance mechanisms play in pro-actively identifying risks and creating opportunities for brands and suppliers to work together to resolve these issues to foster more resilient and ethical supply chains.
For additional insights from the Hamary Awaz Helpline, we invite you to explore our newly launched Hamary Awaz Microsite ; a hub for data, case studies and progress tracking.
