Here are the steps Acas has taken and continues to take to understand and minimise the potential risk of modern slavery in its business and supply chains.
This statement is published in line with section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
About Acas
Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) provides free and impartial information and advice to employers and employees on all aspects of workplace relations and employment law.
We support good relationships between employers and employees which underpin business success.
When things go wrong we help by providing conciliation to resolve workplace problems.
Our commitment to the principles of the Modern Slavery Act 2015
Acas is committed to the principles of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and the abolition of modern slavery and human trafficking.
As an equal opportunities employer, we're committed to creating and ensuring a non-discriminatory and respectful working environment for our staff. We want all our staff to feel confident that they can expose wrongdoing without any risk to themselves.
Our recruitment and people management processes are designed to ensure that all prospective employees are legally entitled to work in the UK and to safeguard employees from any abuse or coercion.
We do not enter into business with any organisation, in the UK or abroad, which knowingly supports or is found to be involved in slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour.
Our supply chain
Due to the nature of our business, we assess ourselves to have a low risk of modern slavery in our business and supply chains.
Our supply chains are limited and we procure goods and services from a restricted range of UK and overseas suppliers, mainly through UK government frameworks.
The UK SBS (our shared services provider) has also published its statement on slavery and human trafficking. This includes mechanisms for guarding against modern slavery in its clients' supply chains.
Our policies in relation to the Modern Slavery Act 2015
The following policies are available to all staff through the Acas intranet:
- Code of conduct
- Ethics policy
- Speak Up policy
- Bullying and harassment policy
- Diversity and inclusion policy
- Recruitment and selection policy
Embedding the principles
We will continue to embed the principles through:
- providing awareness training to staff on the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and informing them of the appropriate action to take if they suspect a case of slavery or human trafficking
- ensuring staff involved in procurement activity are aware of and follow modern slavery procurement guidance on GOV.UK
- ensuring that consideration of the modern slavery risks and prevention are added to Acas's policy review process as an employer and procurer of goods and services
- making sure Acas and UK SBS procurement strategies and contract terms and conditions include references to modern slavery and human trafficking
- continuing to take action to embed a zero tolerance policy towards modern slavery
- ensuring that staff involved in buying or procurement and the recruitment and deployment of workers receive training on modern slavery and ethical employment practices
This statement has been approved by Dan Ellis, Acas People Director, for the financial year ending 31 March 2024.
This statement will be reviewed and updated every year.