Topic Standards Project for Labor
The human rights-based approach will form the basis for the revision and development of the Labor Topic Standards
Public comment period underway
The exposure drafts for ‘Working Parents and Caregivers’ and ‘Training and Education’ of the GRI Topic Standard Project for Labor are available for public comment between 25 February and 29 April 2025, under the second phase of the project.
You are welcome to provide feedback on the exposure drafts by completing the online survey. You can acess the two exposure drafts here:
A summary of the project's objectives and the significant proposals can be found in the Explanatory Memorandum. The public exposure process follows the GSSB Due Process Protocol.
Global webinars
Registration is now open for two global webinars, where the two draft Labor Standards will be presented, with insights from GRI and guest speakers. The sessions take place as follows:
In English: 12 March at 9am CET
In English, with simultaneous interpretation in Spanish and Portuguese: 13 March at 5pm CET
If you are interested in holding a regional or thematic session please reach out to [email protected] to discuss opportunities.
Project update
The GRI Topic Standards Project for Labor is being developed in the following three thematic phases - meaning that only specific Topic Standards are available for public exposure during each public consultation period:
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- Employment practices and conditions
- Working life and career development
- Workers’ rights and protection
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The exposure drafts for the first phase ‘Employment practices and conditions’ of the GRI Topic Standard Project for Labor were made available for public comment between 10 June to 4 October 2024. The analysis of the public comments and finalisation of the documents is taking place in 2025.
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 follows the GSSB's Due Process Protocol, the implementation of which will be overseen by the Due Process Oversight Committee.
Background
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 uses a programatic approach to allow for a greater alignment of the Topic Standards. The following eight labor-related GRI Topic Standards are set to be revised:
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- 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
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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.
Project overview
July 2022
GSSB approval of the project proposal
Sept 2022
Appointment of the Labor Technical Committee. Bios available under Related documents
Sept 2022
Call for the Advisory Group
Q3 2022 - Q4 2025
Content development by the Technical Committee
May 2024
GSSB approval of the first phase of draft Standards for public exposure
June - October 2024
Public comment period on the first set of draft Standards
Q3 2024 - Q2 2025
Analysis of public comments and revision of draft(s) with the Technical Committee for the first phase of standards
February 2025
GSSB approval of the second set of draft Standards for public exposure
February - April 2025
Public comment period on the second phase of draft Standards
Q2 2025 - Q3 2025
Analysis of public comments and revision of draft(s) with the Technical Committee for the second phase of standards
Q4 2025
GSSB approval of the third phase of draft Standards for public exposure
Q4 2025
Public comment period on the third phase of draft Standards
Q4 2025 - Q1 2026
Analysis of public comments and revision of draft(s) with the Technical Committee for the third phase of standards
Q2 2026 - Q3 2026
GSSB approval of all revised Labor Standard(s)
Related Documents
| Labor Technical Committee & Advisory Group - Terms of reference | file | 15 Sep 2022 | English | 184 KB | |
| GRI Topic Standards for Labor - Final Project proposal | file | 15 Sep 2022 | English | 163 KB | |
| GRI Topic Standards project for labor-Technical Committee member biographies | file | 19 Sep 2022 | English | 285 KB | |
| GRI Topic Standards project for Labor-Advisory Group Experts Biography | file | 16 Feb 2023 | English | 518 KB | |
| GRI Topic Standards project for Labor_Significant Changes for Workers Exposure draft | file | 10 Jun 2024 | English | 619 KB | |
| GRI Topic Standards project for Labor_Employment Exposure draft | file | 10 Jun 2024 | English | 1 MB | |
| GRI Topic Standards project for Labor_Control of Work Standard Interpretation to GRI 2 Exposure draft | file | 10 Jun 2024 | English | 161 KB | |
| GRI Topic Standards project for Labor_Remuneration and Working Time Exposure draft | file | 10 Jun 2024 | English | 1 MB | |
| GRI Explanatory Memorandum to the exposure draft standards for Labor | file | 10 Jun 2024 | English | 241 KB | |
| GRI Topic Standards for Labor_Full public comment survey questions_Phase 1 | file | 12 Jul 2024 | English | 265 KB | |
| Explanatory Memorandum | file | 24 Feb 2025 | English | 253 KB | |
| GRI Topic Standard Project for Labor – Training and Education | file | 24 Feb 2025 | English | 708 KB | |
| GRI Topic Standard Project for Labor – Working Parents and Caregivers | file | 24 Feb 2025 | English | 632 KB |
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