Overview

This interactive panel will examine how companies, market institutions, governments and worker-centred practitioners can make human rights due diligence work in practice across Asia-Pacific supply chains, especially where forced labour and unethical recruitment risks persist beyond tier 1.

The session starts from a practical question: how can supply chains remain competitive and responsive to regulatory and market pressure without shifting risks and costs onto migrant workers, suppliers, micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, or informal actors?

Using Malaysia, Thailand and wider regional supply chains as grounded entry points, the panel will explore what enables credible implementation of human rights due diligence, including clearer buyer and supplier expectations, market incentives, worker-informed risk identification, responsible recruitment controls, supplier capability-building and access to remedy. It will also consider how trade, investment and human rights objectives can be better aligned so that responsible business conduct strengthens, rather than undermines, supply-chain resilience and market competitiveness.

Co-organized by the Responsible Business Alliance, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation, and the Rights and Liberties Protection Department, Ministry of Justice, Royal Thai Government, the session will bring together government, trade, company and worker-centred perspectives. The panel will feature representatives from the three co-organizers, alongside Dignity in Work for All and a representative from an RBA member company or a company in its supply chain. Speakers will provide concise, case-based reflections, followed by moderated discussion and audience input on practical barriers, trade-offs and approaches that may be replicated across sectors.

Participants will leave with practical takeaways on how governments, businesses, trade institutions and implementation partners can strengthen resilient, rights-respecting supply chains in the Asia-Pacific region.

Why it matters

Human rights due diligence is increasingly shaping market access, business expectations and supply-chain resilience across Asia-Pacific. Yet practical implementation remains uneven, particularly beyond tier 1 and where risks are embedded in recruitment systems, subcontracting and smaller suppliers. Without workable approaches, resilience and competitiveness may be pursued by shifting costs and risks onto migrant workers or suppliers. This session focuses on practical solutions that protect rights while supporting supplier readiness, market competitiveness and more resilient supply chains.

Key questions

1. How can companies and suppliers translate human rights due diligence expectations into practical action beyond tier 1, particularly where risks are embedded in recruitment systems, subcontracting and informal labour arrangements?

2. How can governments, trade institutions and buyers strengthen supplier readiness and create incentives for responsible business conduct without shifting costs and risks onto migrant workers or smaller suppliers?

3. What approaches can improve worker-informed risk identification, responsible recruitment and access to effective remedy?

4. Which practical approaches can be replicated across Malaysia, Thailand and wider Asia-Pacific supply chains to advance worker protection while supporting competitiveness and supply-chain resilience?

Who should attend?

Government officials and policymakers; companies, buyers and suppliers, including SMEs; trade and investment promotion institutions; worker representatives and worker-centred practitioners; and others involved in human rights due diligence, responsible recruitment, remedy and supply-chain resilience across Asia-Pacific. The session will be particularly relevant to practitioners seeking practical approaches beyond tier 1.

What participants will gain

1. Practical approaches for strengthening supply-chain resilience while advancing human rights due diligence and worker protection.

2. A clearer understanding of implementation barriers beyond tier 1, including recruitment risks, supplier readiness, SME constraints and gaps in worker voice.

3. Examples of enabling conditions, such as clearer buyer-supplier expectations, responsible recruitment controls, market incentives, worker-informed risk identification and access to remedy.

4. Ideas for public-private dialogue and collaboration across Malaysia, Thailand and wider Asia-Pacific supply chains.