As Local As Possible

In the glossy annual reports of global corporations, we read stories of progress, sustainability, and ethical commitments. Yet, for those of us on the ground, witnessing the daily realities for workers who produce the goods we consume, these narratives often ring hollow. We are in a dangerous era of ‘human rights-washing,’ where the architecture of due diligence is being co-opted into a sophisticated tool for brand management rather than a mechanism for genuine change.

The global supply chain has created a vast "distance" between corporate decision-makers and the workers at the heart of their business. This gap is too often filled with superficial solutions. Traditional social audits, which are frequently just a "snapshot in time," can be manipulated and create a mere "veneer of compliance". They fail to capture systemic abuses like harassment, wage theft, or the suppression of worker voice that fester long after the auditors are gone. Consequently, due diligence is becoming a decorative exercise, a box to be checked to satisfy investors and boost ESG ratings, while the fundamental risks to human beings remain.

This is why this compendium, As Local As Possible, is not just important; it is essential. The protection of vulnerable groups—especially migrant workers, female workers, and workers with disabilities —requires more than paperwork. It demands that we move beyond top-down, one-size-fits-all remedies that are often "culturally inappropriate" and fail to address root causes. True remedy cannot be dictated from a distant headquarters.

The ten cases presented here are a powerful testament to a different path forward. They prove that the most effective solutions are not just implemented locally, but aredriven by local actors. By shortening the feedback loop , these examples showcase how local NGOs, unions, and empowered workers can achieve tangible outcomes—be it compensated wages, reinstatement, or critical policy changes. They provide a blueprint for a model where grievance channels are trusted, accessible, and lead to real justice.

To our fellow advocates, may these cases serve as a guide. To the corporations, let this be a challenge to reassess your human rights risks and move beyond performative measures. And to the international community, these stories offer proof that multi-stakeholder collaboration is not a buzzword, but the only way to build supply chains where justice and equity are truly achievable. The time for decoration is over. The time for deep, localised, and worker-centric action is now.