Worker Hotline

QIMA Worker Hotline

During supplier audits, worker interviews are usually completed on-site, but workers may feel they want to share additional information even after the audit has been completed. There are situations when workers may feel uncomfortable reporting problems to the auditors in the factory: for example, if they have reason to believe that the factory management may penalize them for that.

This kind of pressure on workers is unacceptable, and something that the end buyer of your factory’s products is very concerned about. This is why we are operating the QIMA Worker Hotline, which is a safe and confidential channel that provides a direct line for workers to share their complaints with the end buyer of the products they make.

We strongly urge you to use the QIMA Worker Hotline to share any complaints or concerns about your factory and working conditions. Any information you share through this channel will be treated as confidential, and your name will not be shared with the factory management – while your concerns will be received and reviewed by the end buyer. This way, our auditors and the end buyer will get a full and transparent picture of what is going on at the factory, and help create a better working environment.

What happens when you call QIMA Worker Hotline:

• You will always talk to a real person, a QIMA colleague who speaks your language

• You are welcome to share any concerns you may have about the working conditions in your factory. The list below includes some examples, but please let us know about any other issues that worry you:

  • Unsafe environment (blocked fire exits, no fire extinguishers, no smoke detectors, overheating electrical equipment)

  • Abusive practices by the management (physical violence, threats, insults, having your passport taken away, being denied wages)

  • Child labor

  • Lack of protective equipment necessary for your work (protective gloves, footwear, goggles, etc.)

  • Any other concerns you may have

• We will make detailed note of your report and communicate the issues to our client (the company that buys products from your factory)

• We will NOT share your name with your factory’s management or owners, or help them identify you in any other way

Remember: QIMA auditors are independent, and do not work for your factory’s management or owners. We have no financial interest in the outcome of the audit. Our goal is to get the real story. By letting us know about the problems in your factory, you can help improve your working conditions.