Parker Building Supplies is making this modern slavery and human trafficking statement pursuant to section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. This statement relates to the financial year which ended on 31 December 2017 and applies to all companies within the Independent Builders Merchant Group.

We oppose slavery and human trafficking in all its forms and make this statement to set out the steps we have taken to ensure that there is no slavery or human trafficking in our business or in our supply chains.

Our policy on modern slavery and human trafficking

We have an absolute zero tolerance policy to modern slavery. We are committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains or in any part of our business. Our policy reflects our commitment to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure slavery and human trafficking is not taking place anywhere in our supply chains.

We understand that modern slavery encompasses:

1. Forced work, through mental or physical threat;

2. Being owned or controlled by an employer through mental or physical abuse or the threat of abuse;

3. Being dehumanised, treated as a commodity or being bought or sold as property; and/or4. Being physically constrained or to have restriction placed on freedom of movement.

Our commitment to ethical trading

We acknowledge our responsibilities under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and we are committed to preventing slavery and human trafficking within our businesses and our supply chains. We understand that this requires an ongoing review of our internal practices and continual due diligence of our supply chains.

As part of our zero tolerance policy, we will not enter into business, and will discontinue any current business with any other organisation which knowingly supports or is found to involve itself in slavery, servitude or forced or compulsory labour.

We will strive to ensure that no labour provided to us in the provision of our services is obtained by means of slavery or human trafficking. We will strictly adhere to the standards required of us in relation to our responsibilities under relevant employment legislation in the United Kingdom.

Training

All of our employees have an obligation to familiarise themselves with our policy to help in the identification and prevention of modern slavery. This policy will be publicised internally to raise awareness. New employees will

receive training on this policy as part of their induction process. In addition, all of our employees responsible for compliance or procurement will be trained on the requirements of this policy.

This slavery and human trafficking statement was approved by the directors on 21st February 2019.

 

Signed by:

Andrew Cope

Managing Director

 

Parkers Code of Conduct for Suppliers

1. Child Labour

Child labour MUST NOT BE used by a supplier.

A child is defined as any person under the age at which the local minimum age law stipulates for work or mandatory schooling. As a general rule this would be anyone under fifteen years of age.

 

2. Slavery, Forced, Bonded* or Involuntary Labour

* Bonded Labour, e.g. a person becomes a bonded labourer when their labour is demanded as a means of repayment for a loan.

There MUST NOT BE any slavery, forced, bonded or involuntary labour in use across a supplier’s operation.

To ensure compliance, workers should have the legal right to work at the premises, to leave the premises at the end of their working day and the freedom to terminate employment at any time in accordance with the agreed notice period.

 

3. Human Trafficking

There MUST NOT BE any labour who could be considered to have been subject to Human Trafficking.

To ensure compliance, workers cannot be recruited through a person who arranges or facilitates the travel of another person. It is irrelevant whether that person has consented to travel.

 

4. Health and Safety Hazards

Workers MUST BE prevented from exposure to any health and safety hazards that are likely to pose an immediate risk of causing death, permanent injury or illness.

 

5. Working Hours

A reliable system for recording working hours and wages for each individual employed MUST BE in place within a supplier and these should be available for audit.

 

6. Business Ethics

There MUST NOT BE any form of bribery offered or used in relation to the Parkers business.