The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) announced today the release of two draft standards addressing how companies report on labor issues including disclosures on measures to tackle discrimination and to protect the human rights of workers.
GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards are one of the most commonly accepted global standards for sustainability disclosure by companies, developed to enable consistent reporting across companies and industries, providing clearer communication regarding sustainability matters to a broad range of stakeholders, including investors. The GRI’s standards are developed by the Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB).
The new draft standards include “Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity,” covering the causes of direct and indirect discrimination and a breakdown of recorded incidents and also including Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity, and “Diversity and Inclusion,” encompassing disclosures and metrics aimed at increasing transparency on the integration of diversity and inclusion policies in organizational strategies and operations.
GRI’s labor standards are aimed at enabling organizations to publicly disclose their most significant impacts on workers and how they are managing those impacts. The release of the new draft standards forms part of a wider review of GRI’s labor-related disclosures as part of the organization’s Labor Project, initiated by the GSSB in 2022. In total, the project aims to revise eight of its labor-related standards, with publication of the new standards expected to begin from mid-2026. Key themes covered by the standards include employment practices and conditions, working life and career development, and workers’ rights and protection.
GRI launched a public comment period on the two new draft standards, which will remain open through September 15, 2025. Click here to access the exposure drafts and consultation.
GSSB member Anne Lindsay said:
“The GSSB designated a review of all GRI labor-related Standards as a priority, given the universal recognition that human rights must be protected, with employers required to demonstrate how they are respecting labor rights and safeguarding the wellbeing of workers. Diversity, inclusion, non-discrimination and equal opportunity are central themes when it comes to fair and inclusive employment. We urge all stakeholders – from workers’ representatives to employers and investors – to take part in this consultation to ensure that the revised GRI Standards are not only robust and practical, but capable of driving meaningful, lasting change for workers everywhere.”
