The board of global cable manufacturer Tratos chose this week to issue a reminder as to why companies have to be scrupulous, as well as responsible, for every element that impacts their business.
With more than half a century’s track record of fully-enforced respect for human rights, and as the UK’s largest independent in the industry, the company sought to ask others in the sector to look at refreshing their own procedures for helping eradicate modern-day slavery in all its forms.
In preparing new policy statements Tratos laid down a series of operating practices that further strengthen its own zero-tolerance on malpractice, violation and forced labour.
Company CEO, Dr Maurizio Bragagni, said: “Modern slavery is a crime and a violation of fundamental human rights.
“It takes various forms, all of them ugly, all of them with no place in civilised society. Slavery, servitude, forced and compulsory labour and human trafficking, all spell the deprivation of a person’s liberty for others to exploit for personal or commercial gain – and they are abhorrent.
“We are a forward looking and thinking company, as are most in our industry. Together we have to stay informed and remain committed to the eradication of modern slavery, we have to act ethically and with integrity across all the areas touched by our businesses. We expect our suppliers to do the same.
“Finding such cruel and inhuman practices anywhere is unacceptable. Those behind trafficking and coercion can’t achieve rewards from their ‘businesses’ if there is no one to buy their services. So it is down to us within the corporate world to ensure that anyone we have business dealings and relationships with, and those serving their networks, are implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls. It’s the only way to ensure we remain free from contamination, and that those who would profit from harm have nowhere to go.”
Tratos issued its statement after a comprehensive regular review of its own policies and practices. The company stated that complacency and lack of regular due diligence were two of the biggest threats to keeping business clean and urged others in the industry to research, review and re-invest frequently.
Its policy review promises transparency within the Tratos business and its approach to tackling modern slavery throughout supply chains and consistent with our disclosure obligations under the Modern Slavery Act 2015. It goes on to include specific prohibitions against all modern slavery practices for any who would work with the company as part of its contracting processes and expects its contractors, suppliers and other business partners to observe the same high standards.
Dr Bragagni added: “We want people to ask questions and we want them to be open about what they find. Everyone has a responsibility to do the right thing – for someone else’s daughter, son, mother or father.”
