Audit, Findings, and Remediation
Remediation
The work of fixing the problem, addressing harm, and reducing the chance that the same issue happens again.
Definition
Remediation includes corrective action, but it is broader than that. It covers both what changes in the site or system and what is done for the workers or stakeholders affected by the problem.
In practice, remediation can mean repaying recruitment fees, correcting wages, changing supervisors, installing safety controls, retraining managers, or redesigning the process that caused the issue.
How this source informs this section
UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
The UN Guiding Principles are the core reference because they connect remedy to affected people, not only to internal process closure.
Why it matters
This is where responsible sourcing becomes real. Audits and investigations only matter if they lead to changes that reduce harm and prevent recurrence.
A weak remediation system leaves teams with open findings, repeated issues, and little confidence that the supplier has actually improved.
How this source informs this section
OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct
OECD guidance supports structuring remediation as part of an ongoing due-diligence and prevention system rather than a one-off response.
Nuance
Closing the corrective action plan (CAP) and remedying the harm are not always the same thing. A site may complete the listed actions while workers still have not been repaid or protected.
The best remediation systems also distinguish between one-off fixes and changes that strengthen the control environment over time.
How this source informs this section
UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
The UNGP framework supports distinguishing between administrative closure and meaningful remedy for the actual impact.
Sources
UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
OHCHR · framework
Used here for the baseline definition of human-rights due diligence, remedy, and grievance expectations.
OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct
OECD · guidance
OECD's core guidance on how companies identify risk, prioritize, respond, track follow-up, and communicate what changed.
