In 2014, we extended this innovative programme to a further nine
factories in Indonesia, bringing the total to 14. We also added 10
supplier factories in Vietnam. As in Indonesia, the vast majority of
Vietnamese people have mobile phones, ensuring nearly every
factory worker can use the new system. At the end of 2014, more
than 160,000 workers were covered by the SMS hotline service.
WORKERS KNOW THAT MANAGEMENT IS LISTENING TO
THEIR CONCERNS. MANAGEMENT CAN SEND WORKERS
GROUP TEXTS WITH POLICY UPDATES OR SAFETY MESSAGES.
The success of the service lies in its ease of use. Workers find it
straightforward to send a message, and because it encourages
prompt responses from management, workers know that their
concerns are being heard. Being run by an independent service
provider ensures worker confidentiality. As part of the project,
workers’ mobile numbers are anonymously gathered so
management can send group texts with policy updates or safety
messages. All in all it brings the two groups closer together,
which we know improves greater compliance with our
Workplace Standards.
In 2015, we plan to roll out the SMS hotline service to 20 supplier
factories in Cambodia and will also add four more supplier
factories in Indonesia and a further eight in Vietnam. As it enters
its third year, our worker hotline service is growing fast.