Our due diligence processes and steps taken to mitigate the risk
The ICR has identified the main categories of goods and services that present higher risk of human rights abuses. We will continue to advance our knowledge and understanding of these risks in collaboration with the LUPC and continue to progressively find and implement strategies to address such risks.
In some cases, such as cleaning, catering and security services, we continue to work in collaboration with our suppliers and consortium to protect workers from human rights abuses. We completed a review of our existing catering and waste management contract and made modern slavery inclusions. Across all our higher-risk spend categories, our intention is to communicate for wider benefit those due diligence processes that we find to be the most successful and continue to apply them across the board. Modern slavery remains a training need and we have continuously trained the procurement element and developing wider awareness strategy across the institute’s relevant departments and all staff.
Most of our LUPC suppliers in these higher-risk categories have committed to the Base Code of the
Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), which ICR fully supports and is founded on the conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) as well as being an internationally recognised code of labour practice, requiring that:
- Employment is freely chosen;
- Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining are respected;
- Working conditions are safe and hygienic;
- Child labour shall not be used;
- National Living wages are paid;
- Working hours are not excessive;
- No discrimination is practised;
- Regular employment is provided; and
- No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed.
The ICR is affiliated to Electronics Watch, the independent monitoring organisation that aims to improve workers' conditions in global electronics supply chains. This affiliation and continuous collaboration with LUPC, fellow members and the wider sector will enhance our focus on responsible procurement and support work to mitigate human rights abuses in supply chains.