Modern slavery is both a crime and a violation of fundamental human rights. It takes various forms, such as slavery, servitude, forced and compulsory labour and human trafficking – all of which involve the deprivation of one person’s liberty by another, in order to exploit them for gain.
MorganAsh is committed to acting ethically, and with integrity, in all of our business dealings and relationships – and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls which ensure that modern slavery does not take place anywhere in our own business or in our supply chains.
We are also committed to ensuring there is transparency in our own business, and in our approach to tackling modern slavery throughout our supply chains, consistent with our disclosure obligations under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
We expect the same high standards from all of our contractors, suppliers and other business partners and as part of our contracting processes. Within our business, we prohibit the use of forced, compulsory or trafficked labour, or anyone held in slavery or servitude, whether adults or children, and we expect that our suppliers will hold their own suppliers to the same high standards.
This policy applies to all persons working for us, or on our behalf, in any capacity – including employees at all levels, directors, officers, agency workers, seconded workers, volunteers, interns, agents, contractors, external consultants, third-party representatives and business partners.
This policy does not form part of any employee’s contract of employment and we may amend it at any time.
Responsibility for the policy
MorganAsh has overall responsibility for ensuring this policy complies with our legal and ethical obligations, and that all those under our control comply with it.
MorganAsh has primary and day-to-day responsibility for implementing this policy, monitoring its use and effectiveness, dealing with any queries about it, and auditing internal control systems and procedures to ensure they are effective in countering modern slavery.
Management at all levels are responsible for ensuring those reporting to them understand and comply with this policy and are given adequate and regular training on it and the issue of modern slavery in supply chains.
Compliance with the policy
Our suppliers and contractors must understand and comply with this policy. The prevention, detection and reporting of modern slavery in any part of our business or supply chains is the responsibility of all those working for us or under our control.
All employees, contractors and suppliers must avoid any activity that might lead to, or suggest, a breach of this policy. We ask that anyone notify their line manager or a company director as soon as possible if they believe or suspect that a conflict with this policy has occurred or may occur in the future.
We encourage everyone to raise concerns about any issue or suspicion of modern slavery in any parts of our business or supply chains of any supplier tier at the earliest possible stage.
The welfare and safety of workers is a priority; we will give support and guidance to our suppliers to help them address coercive, abusive and exploitative work practices in their own business and supply chains.
If you are unsure about whether a particular act, the treatment of workers more generally, or their working conditions within any tier of our supply chains constitutes any of the various forms of modern slavery, raise it us.
We aim to encourage openness and will support anyone who raises genuine concerns in good faith under this policy, even if they turn out to be mistaken. We are committed to ensuring no one suffers any detrimental treatment as a result of reporting in good faith their suspicion that modern slavery of whatever form is or may be taking place in any part of our own business or in any of our supply chains.
Detrimental treatment includes dismissal, disciplinary action, threats or other unfavourable treatment connected with raising a concern.
Breaches of this policy
Any employee who breaches this policy will face disciplinary action, which could result in dismissal for misconduct or gross misconduct. We may terminate our relationship with other individuals and organisations working on our behalf if they breach this policy.