Deep Dive

Building Shared Approaches to Labour Data for Effective Human Rights Due Diligence

ORGANIZED BY

Open Supply Hub, H&M, Dabindu Collective

15-Sep

17:00-17:45

Conference Room 4

Despite the growing volume of labour data, it remains scattered across disconnected actors and systems, rarely providing a complete picture. Bringing together trade union, company and open-data platform perspectives, this session explores what must change for labour data to be less fragmented and improve outcomes for workers.

Topic in Focus

What kinds of labour data are necessary to identify risks, prevent harm and determine whether conditions are genuinely improving for workers in global supply chains?

Overview

As governments and companies implement National Action Plans and human rights due diligence (HRDD) frameworks, increasing volumes of labour data are being collected across global supply chains. Yet more information does not automatically lead to better decisions or improved outcomes for workers. Labour data remains fragmented across companies, suppliers, governments, auditors and civil society organisations, while data generated by grassroots organisations and trade unions can be difficult to share because of political sensitivities and risks of retaliation.

This deep-dive session brings together trade union, company and data-platform perspectives to examine what labour data is needed for effective HRDD, and what safeguards and infrastructure are required to make it interoperable, actionable and capable of supporting harm prevention, supply-chain accountability and access to remedy.

Why it matters

The expansion of HRDD creates an opportunity to build labour data systems that serve workers, not just reporting/compliance requirements. Without coordination, organisations may spend scarce resources collecting similar information while critical risks remain unseen. This matters because the quality, governance and use of labour data will influence whether companies and governments can act earlier, allocate resources better and deliver more credible systems of accountability and remedy.

Who should attend?

Sustainability and sourcing teams within companies, manufacturers, trade unions, civil society organisations, auditors, researchers, government officials and others working on HRDD, labour rights, supply-chain transparency, grievance mechanisms and access to remedy.

What participants will gain

A clearer understanding of what forms of labour-related data/indicators are most useful for measuring and assessing progress within HRDD processes.
Greater visibility into which actors currently hold, generate, or rely on different forms of labour-related information across supply chains.
Practical ideas and potential pathways for developing more interoperable, worker-centred, and public-interest approaches to labour-related information systems across supply chains.

Anastacia Sarina Howe

Labour Rights Area Lead for Production and Value Chain, H&M

Anastacia leads H&M's labour rights strategy across production and the value chain. With more than 20 year's experience working across Southeast Asia, Anastacia has partnered with businesses, governments, trade unions and civil society to address complex challenges within global supply chains. Her experience spans strategy development, governance, stakeholder engagement, and the design and implementation of practical solutions that strengthen worker voice, improve working conditions, and enhance access to remedy. Anastacia also serves as an elected brand representative on the International Accord Steering Committee, contributing to collaborative efforts that strengthen workplace safety governance and responsible business practices within global garment supply chains.

Hannah Lennett

Senior Director of Programs, Open Supply Hub

Hannah Lennett is the Senior Director of Programs at Open Supply Hub, where she leads global strategies and partnerships that use open data to make supply chains safer and more sustainable. Previously, she was a senior leader in IDEO's open innovation portfolio, designing programs that brought companies, funders, and communities together to address social and environmental challenges worldwide. She is based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and holds an MBA from UC Berkeley and a BA from Brown University.

Nandita Shivakumar

Account Manager - Trade Unions/ CSOs, Open Supply Hub

Nandita Shivakumar is the Accounts Manager for Trade Unions and Civil Society Organisations at Open Supply Hub. Over the past decade, she has worked extensively with trade unions in the textile sector, developing long-term programmes that bring workers, unions, suppliers and global brands together to address labour rights challenges in supply chains. At Open Supply Hub, her work focuses on making labour data more accessible and useful, while ensuring it is shared and used safely and responsibly.

Yasara Weerathunga

Manager – Programmes at Dabindu Collective and President of the Dabindu Collective Union

Yasara Weerathunga is Manager – Programmes at Dabindu Collective and President of the Dabindu Collective Union, a women-led trade union in Sri Lanka. Her work focuses on human rights, labour rights, gender justice, freedom of association, and strengthening worker voice and participation. She works closely with women workers in Sri Lanka’s Free Trade Zones and manufacturing areas with a particular focus on gender-based violence, decent work, living wages, occupational health and safety, sexual and reproductive health rights and collective bargaining. Yasara holds a B.A. (Hons) in Peace & Conflict Resolution from the University of Kelaniya and a Master’s in Conflict and Peace Studies from the University of Colombo. She is engaged in advocacy,research, capacity building and policy dialogue to advance workers’ rights and promote responsible business practices.