The world’s leading corporates come to Wallbrook to assess human rights risks in their supply chain.
We help clients develop policies and risk mitigation plans that align with current and emerging supply chain regulations, such as Germany’s Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG), Norway's Transparency Act, Modern Slavery Acts, and the EU’s Directive on corporate sustainability due diligence (CSDDD).
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY ON SUPPLY CHAINS
Regulations increasingly mandate supply chain due diligence, with increased scrutiny on human rights risks beyond first tier suppliers. Wallbrook helps clients proactively manage potential and actual adverse human rights impacts throughout their supply chain and develop approaches to engage with high-risk suppliers globally.
SUPPLY CHAIN RISK MAPPING & PRIORITISATION
Wallbrook supports the identification and prioritisation of human rights risks in complex supply chains through policy review, policy gap analysis, risk rating, and targeted risk assessments. Our risk analysis accounts for local risks, sector risks, sector standards, and relevant human rights frameworks.
SUPPLIER RISK ASSESSMENT
We conduct targeted research to assess suppliers’ human rights track records and identify the highest risks for exposure to modern slavery and other concerns. We engage with our global network, including activists, journalists, workers’ rights organisations and investigators on the ground, to obtain first-hand information regarding suppliers’ track record. We analyse findings to formulate recommendations for policy upgrades and new practices, and flag cases that warrant further due diligence.
IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENT WITH SUPPLIERS
We facilitate engagement with suppliers on working conditions and recruitment practices. We visit supplier sites, review policies and interview management and workers to carry out gap analysis against the clients’ policies and leading frameworks, and provide recommendations for clients to use their leverage to drive up standards and performance.
RISK ASSESSMENT FOR INVESTORS
We help investors assess human rights risks at the portfolio and investee level, including supply chain issues in their prospective and active investments. We carry out in-depth risk assessments (e.g., for investments in high-risk sectors and regions) and provide tailored analysis on critical issues.
CASE STUDY: RECRUITMENT FEES
We work with multinational companies to investigate the payment of recruitment fees by migrant workers at their suppliers in countries such as the UAE. We conduct visits to suppliers’ manufacturing facilities and in-depth interviews with managers and workers, assess policy documents, and analyse company and external data relating to the payment of recruitment fees. We design remediation plans for the client and the suppliers, and support with implementation.