Grievance Mechanisms and Remediation
Key Researchers
- Nga Pham
- Matthew Coghlan
- Clare Bartram
Details
Released in September 2026, this report from the Monash Centre for Financial Studies examines the information disclosed about grievance mechanisms and remediation in the FY2024 modern slavery statements of the 39 largest ASX100 financials and materials companies.
It introduces the original 8R framework, a 40-question rubric anchored in the effectiveness criteria of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). The framework is organised around eight pillars — Representation, Respect, Relationships, Receipt, Response, Remedy, Review and Reporting.
The assessment is disclosure-based. It evaluates what companies report in their modern slavery statements. It does not verify the existence, quality or effectiveness of the underlying grievance and remediation practices. As the Australian Government considers mandatory disclosure requirements on grievance mechanisms and remediation in modern slavery statements, this report provides a timely, policy-relevant empirical survey of how far reporting entities currently disclose such information in their statements.
Key findings
- Across the 39 companies reviewed, disclosure remains limited, with an average score of 14.28 out of 40, or 36 per cent of the 8R questions.
- Only five companies scored 20 or more, while most clustered in a long mid-tier and nine scored below 10, indicating that grievance and remediation disclosure in modern slavery statements is still underdeveloped across both sectors.
- Materials companies disclosed substantially more than Financials companies, averaging 17 compared with 11 points out of 40.
- The strongest area in both sectors is Respect, where many companies mention the scope, confidentiality and antiretaliation protections.
- The weakest areas are Remedy, Relationships and parts of Reporting. The findings suggest that clearer expectations are needed on what entities should disclose about grievance design, remedy, review and outcome reporting if modern slavery statements are to serve as a meaningful accountability mechanism.