Grievance mechanisms allow individuals to raise complaints about actions that may have impacted their human rights or labour rights. In cocoa production, the most common human rights and labour rights issues include withholding wages, workers performing tasks that were not specified at the time of recruitment or workers not performing agreed-upon tasks. Grievance mechanisms can be used to resolve disputes, investigate allegations of abuse, provide solutions for those affected, and ultimately prevent further harm.
This practical guide provides step-by-step guidance on setting up community-based grievance mechanisms to address forced labour risks in cocoa-growing communities.
It draws on ICI’s experience in implementing and overseeing these mechanisms to tackle the risk of forced labour in cocoa-growing areas in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.
