Ashford and St Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is increasingly aware of bonded labour and human rights issues within its supply chains, and is requesting that suppliers immediately implement ethical sourcing procedures.
If this is not applied, the Trust will suffer reputational and possibly legal damage including the risk of loss of both consumer confidence and market share if we are found to be sourcing from suppliers who use exploitative labour. Suppliers may also face legal repercussions if their suppliers are involved in illegal conduct within its supply chain, irrespective of whether it happens abroad.
Unfortunately, slavery and human trafficking still transpires in our modern society; and we collectively have a responsibly to be aware of the risks, however small, in our business and in the wider supply chain. We all have a duty of care to report concerns and immediately act upon them. The Trust may conduct random checks to establish that suppliers provide a track record of ethical procurement activity within its supply chain to encourage investment and improve employee morale as well as exceed legal requirements.
This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and establishes Procurement’s slavery and human trafficking statement for the current financial year and has been approved by the Board and signed by our Director of Finance.
Alex Williams
Associate Director of Procurement
Supplies and Procurement
October 2019
