Purpose of a Modern Slavery Policy

A Modern Slavery Policy outlines an organization's framework and commitments to combat and eradicate modern slavery and human trafficking in its operations and supply chains. These policies aim to establish a safe and accountable business environment, promoting ethical practices and ensuring the safety of human rights.

How to Use

This Modern Slavery Policy template should be customised by a competent person, signed by a top-level manager (e.g. the director), and displayed in the workplace or provided by other means (e.g. website). It should also be communicated to new workers as part of their induction or onboarding process.

This document is a template only and it must be customised for your business. Other aspects that need to be considered include ensuring that:

Relevant legal requirements have been met,
Workplace specific risks are identified and managed, and
Workers are consulted with during the customisation / review process.

When to Use

This document should be displayed in a prominent area or uploaded to your website/ centralized document system. You should also use it during employee inductions, and you may wish to refresh your workers on the contents of the policy periodically as part of a safety meeting or refresher training.

Who Should Use

This document should be endorsed with the signature of the appropriate top-level manager (such as a director). It can be used by your Safety Advisor, Project Manager, or other Manager/s to communicate the requirements to workers (including new workers).

Legal Considerations

Generally, under the WHS legislation, there is no specific legal requirement to have or display a Modern Slavery Policy. However, it is best practice. It can help meet general legal duties, including:

s(19)(3)a WHS Act – Duty to Provide a Safe Working Environment

Workers also have legal responsibilities, including:

s(28) WHS Act – Duty of workers:
- Taking care of yourself
- Taking care of others
- Following procedure
- Following instruction

FAQ

What is a Modern Slavery Policy?

A modern slavery policy is a formal declaration to combat modern slavery and human trafficking within an organization's operations and supply chains, emphasizing ethical practices and proactive risk management.

What do Modern Slavery Policies cover?

These policies typically outline the organization's commitment to preventing and addressing modern slavery, including definitions of modern slavery and human trafficking, responsibilities of employees and suppliers, risk assessment procedures, due diligence measures, reporting mechanisms, and consequences for non-compliance.

Are suppliers and contractors required to adhere to Modern Slavery Policies?

Yes, these policies typically extend to suppliers, contractors, and other business partners, requiring them to comply with anti-slavery and human trafficking laws and uphold the same standards of ethical conduct as the organization.

Did you know?

Modern slavery policies have become increasingly important in global supply chains, with many countries enacting legislation requiring businesses to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations. This shift reflects a growing recognition of the need for corporate accountability in combating this pervasive human rights issue.

Article Sources and Further Reading

Free Modern Slavery Policy Template