18 September  |  15:30-16:00 ICT

Mind the Gap: A Data Dive into Asian Business Performance

Organized by:

• World Benchmarking Alliance

Background

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Asia anchors global value chains, yet benchmark evidence shows persistent gaps that hold back people-focused outcomes: companies act more in their own operations than in supply chains where risks are highest, worker grievance channels exist but communities rarely have access or remedy, and only a minority provide childcare or family support to reduce unpaid care. At the same time, investor expectations and regulatory signals are tightening, shifting the question from policies to proof of effectiveness.

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This session turns data into decisions. Using rapid, real scenarios from recent WBA benchmarks, participants will stress test trade-offs and agree what credible action looks like on supply-chain due diligence, community-accessible grievance mechanisms, and unpaid care enablers. This session aims to provide insights on common gaps, good practices, and a common language to key stakeholders.

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Key Objectives

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• Translate benchmark findings into 2 to 3 near-term actions per insight for companies, investors, and civil society.

• Stress test decisions through rapid responses to real scenarios.

• Capture one measurable commitment per participant.

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Guiding Questions​​​​

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• Supply-chain HRDD gap: Only 9.1% of companies[1] show evidence of acting on supply-chain human-rights risks versus 22.7% in their own operations. As a company operating in the region, what is one main reason for this gap in your context, and what is one concrete action you think companies can take to close it?

• Grievance access gap: 63.6% disclose worker access to grievance mechanisms but only 4.5% ensure access for external individuals and communities. What factors make community access harder in supply chains, and what immediate design changes would build trust?

• Unpaid care gap: Only 26.9% of companies disclose childcare support. What is the biggest barrier to offering practical childcare or family support in your context, and what single measure can companies take to improve this?

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[1] 22 CHRB companies in East, South and South-East Asia​

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Session Partner