Property group Vicinity Centres has rolled out its first Modern Slavery Statement, detailing its ethical working standards and how it is helping to protect its employees.
The statement is part of the company’s sustainability strategy which discusses how the business is mitigating human rights and modern slavery risks via its process, policy and reporting mechanisms.
“We’re already taking proactive steps to identify, report and address modern slavery, with a focus on higher risk industries such as cleaning and security, and our first Modern Slavery Statement captures this work to encourage continued progress,” said Vicinity CEO and managing director Grant Kelley.
Last year, it underwent a review on how to managed effectively modern slavery risks and environmental including social and governance (ESG) risks within the supply chain.
The Responsible Procurement Action Plan was developed and led to key initiatives to ensure the ESG risks are managed within the business’ supply chain.
“We have introduced the use of a supplier sustainability assessment to review ESG practices and reinforce clauses in maintenance service agreements which prohibit subcontracting without prior approval, allow us to conduct routine supplier audits and require payment of workers in compliance with modern awards,” said Vicinity head of sustainability Meredith Banks.
Banks said they are also working with operational suppliers to discuss and monitor compliance and Vicinity conducts an annual audit program of cleaning and security suppliers through independent workplace relations experts.
