TSL Limited
MODERN SLAVERY ACT 2015 POLICY STATEMENT
2018/2019
This policy statement has been published in accordance with the section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act and sets out the steps and responsibilities for TSL Limited, our employees, suppliers and subcontractors.
The United Kingdom Modern Slavery Act of 2015 requires certain businesses to provide disclosure concerning their efforts, if any, to address the issues of slavery and human trafficking in their supply chains. The disclosures are intended to provide consumers the ability to make better, more informed choices about the products and services they buy and companies they support.
TSL Limited’s Business
TSL Limited is a design and build contractor, delivering construction projects across the UK, Europe and the USA within the food, pharmaceutical, logistics and high-tech manufacturing sectors.
TSL Limited was formed in 2002 and our head office is based in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire with offices in the UK, Germany, Ireland and the USA. TSL Limited is a privately-owned business which employs approximately 120 employees.
TSL Limited’s business covers the following key areas:
- Industrial, commercial and distribution buildings
- Fit-out – standalone and as part of a base build, including installing high value storage, complex MHE (Material Handling Equipment), and mechanical and electrical services
- Civil engineering, earthworks, remediation and infrastructure
TSL Limited’s financial year runs from 1 July to 30 June.
Summary
TSL Limited is committed to maintaining and improving systems and processes to avoid complicity in human rights violations related to our own operations, our supply chain, and our products. TSL Limited realises that slavery and human trafficking can occur in many forms, such as forced labour, child labour, domestic servitude, sex trafficking, and workplace abuse. Therefore, throughout this disclosure we use the terms “slavery and human trafficking” to encompass these various forms of coerced labour.
We take certain steps during the fiscal year to ensure that slavery and human trafficking are not taking place in our supply chains or other parts of our business. To this end, we have established an integrated approach to managing human rights across our business, including risks related to slavery and human trafficking.
Our commitment to human rights which covers topics such as forced labour, slavery, child labour, sex trafficking, workplace abuse and human trafficking is outlined in this policy. We have invested time and resources in addressing system level improvements. TSL Limited undertakes efforts aimed at ensuring there is no human trafficking or slavery of any form in our supply chain.
Verification
TSL Limited takes steps to verify, evaluate and address risks of slavery and human trafficking in our supply chain. The first step in this process is to set clear expectations for our suppliers. We stipulate that “We do not tolerate forced, debt bonded, indentured labour practices, or human trafficking. TSL Limited does not allow harsh or inhumane treatment, including corporal punishment or the threat of corporal punishment. We expect our suppliers and others to meet these expectations.” The Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition Code (EICC), in turn, provides that, “forced, bonded (including debt bondage) or indentured labour, involuntary prison labour, slavery or trafficking of persons shall not be used.”
We regularly notify our suppliers of their obligation to comply with TSL Limited’s policy and the EICC Code. For example, the vast majority of our supplier contracts contain language requiring suppliers to comply with this policy and the Codes. Regular meetings are held with TSL Limited’s Directors to discuss and review our suppliers’ performance related to issues such as slavery and human trafficking.
By way of brief summary, our verification process involves an annual assessment of our major suppliers. Each year, our major suppliers complete an evaluation questionnaire, including questions targeted at slavery and human trafficking risk. TSL Limited use this questionnaire to determine the risk profile of suppliers for environmental, safety, human rights (including slavery and human trafficking) and other supplier sustainability issues.
In addition to this evaluation questionnaire, we utilise a more detailed survey that covers slavery and human trafficking risks targeted at those companies that we consider higher risk based on their location, foreign worker population, or other risked-based factors.
Supplier Audits
We view assessments and audits as integral parts of our overall supplier management process. They assist with identifying any compliance gaps where immediate action is needed, and root causes that enable development of systemic solutions and improvements.
TSL Limited creates an annual risk profile of each of our major suppliers based on their supplier evaluation questionnaires, our knowledge of their operations and practices, and, where applicable, the results of targeted surveys. Suppliers that we identify as higher risk will undergo an audit and/or capability assessment. The audits are performed utilising an on-site audit performed by qualified TSL Limited auditors. These audits are performed against either the full EICC Code or a targeted portion of the EICC Code based on a supplier’s risk profile and our specific compliance concerns. Audits are scheduled with the supplier in advance. We typically do not conduct unannounced audits.
Audit findings or non-conformances are ranked on a scale from minor to priority issues. When we identify priority issues, such as those involving potential slavery and human trafficking violations, we demand an urgent, if not immediate response from the supplier. When such potentially serious issues come to our attention, we, as appropriate, work with experienced outside counsel or other experts to investigate the matter. When other serious, but potentially less urgent, non-conformance issues are identified through an audit, the suppliers are required to draft comprehensive corrective action plans to address all audit findings, and we work with them to document actions taken and ensure closure.
TSL Limited has a Management Review Committee that reviews a supplier’s gap closure plans and closure evidence on a quarterly basis, or more frequently if needed. When we conclude that a given supplier is not making sufficient or timely progress to address audit findings, or the supplier’s actions do not result in sustainable change, we work with the supplier to develop a suitable action plan.
Our goal when working with a supplier on an action plan is for the supplier to successfully address our findings. We engage and monitor the progress of the supplier until the issues are satisfactorily resolved. However, if satisfactory progress is not made, we are prepared to take additional action, such as not awarding new business until issues are resolved, placing the supplier on a “conditional use” status, or ending the supplier relationship. Moreover, TSL Limited may report supplier misconduct to relevant government authorities.
Certification
TSL Limited’s suppliers must certify that products supplied to TSL Limited comply with TSL Limited purchase agreements and/or purchase order terms and conditions. These purchase agreements
and/or purchase order terms and conditions require suppliers to represent and warrant compliance with the TSL Limited policy and all applicable laws, regulations and international standards.
Internal Accountability
The Board of Directors of TSL Limited hold overall responsibility for ensuring this policy complies with our legal and ethical obligations, and that all those under our control comply with it.
TSL Limited’s HSQE Director, with support from the HR Manager has day-to-day responsibility for the implementation of this policy.
TSL Limited’s CEO sets the tone for our ethical culture and holds managers accountable for communicating ethics and compliance expectations. Each year, our CEO communicates with employees and senior managers regarding the importance of ethics and legal compliance.
TSL Limited requires its employees and contingent workers to comply with this policy, which forbids human trafficking and references TSL Limited’s Human Rights Principles. An employee’s violation of the policy may result in discipline, up to and including, termination and/or reporting the misconduct to the relevant government authorities.
Compliance with the policy
We encourage anyone (including employees, contractors, suppliers, distributors, and customers) to report in good faith any issues or concerns about potential ethics, human rights, legal, or regulatory violations, including improper or unethical business practices such as fraud or bribery. TSL Limited investigates concerns raised and strives to resolve each consistent with the law and TSL Limited’s policy.
Individuals must notify a member of the senior management team or HR Manager as soon as possible if they suspect that a conflict in this policy has occurred or may occur in the future.
Declaration
This statement was approved by the Board of TSL Limited
Jackie Wild
CEO
TSL Limited
December 2018