Project Update

The Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB) appointed the Labor Technical Committee in September 2022 and an Advisory Group (AG) with independent experts to support and advise the Technical Committee on the content development process.

The project is revising the labor topic standards in two sets of complementary related topics. Both sets of standards will have their own Public Consultation Process.

The project will follow the GSSB's Due Process Protocol, the implementation of which will be overseen by the Due Process Oversight Committee. Get familiar with the  GSSB Terms of Reference for more details. 

About this project

The Topic Standard Project for Human Rights has identified the need to revise the existing labor-related disclosures and develop new ones. The human rights-based approach and due diligence - the cornerstone of the Universal Standards - will form the basis for the revision of the labor-related Topic Standards. The revision process will use a programmatic approach to allow for a greater alignment of the Topic Standards. Currently, the following labor-related GRI Topic standards are set to be revised:

• GRI 202: Market Presence 2016; 
• GRI 401: Employment 2016; 
• GRI 402: Labor/Management Relations 2016; 
• GRI 404: Training and Education 2016; 
• GRI 405: Diversity and Equal Opportunity 2016; 
• GRI 407: Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining 2016; 
• GRI 408: Child Labor 2016; 
• GRI 409: Forced or Compulsory Labor 2016. 

The development of labor-related standards will enable organizations to publicly disclose their most significant impacts on workers and how they are managing those impacts.

The importance of these Standards

In recent years, there has been a greater understanding of organizations' responsibilities concerning human rights and labor relations. For example, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights  have become an authoritative global reference point. As a result, companies now have a better understanding of their responsibilities, including their impacts on workers, which they can consequently incorporate into reporting. The International Labor Organization (ILO) Decent Work 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has also highlighted the need for productive employment and decent work as the key elements for achieving fair globalization and poverty reduction.

The revision is part of the second phase of the Topic Standard Project for Human Rights.

Read the Project Proposal for more information.