Slavery Policy
Slavery and Human Trafficking
Specialist Switchgear Systems Limited (SSSL) does not condone and will not participate in any form of human exploitation, including child or forced labour, slavery and / or people trafficking. SSSL is aware of the provisions of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (the “Act”) and this statement sets out the steps that SSSL has taken to try and remove the risk that slavery and human trafficking is taking place in its supply chain or within SSSL’s business.
Our Business & Supply Chain
SSSL is a distributor and designer and producer of high-quality specialist switchgear to the electrical contract and facilities sectors. We supply components and panels for electrical panel products, together with engineering and associated industrial services, to the maintenance, repair and overhaul (“MRO”) market.
SSSL is headquartered in Bury in the UK. We offer around 8,000 individual products.
Our Policies
SSSL is committed to ensuring that slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in its supply chain or as part of SSSL’s business. Many of SSSL’s existing policies contain relevant elements which seek to ensure that this is the case, including the following which are either implemented or are in the course of being implemented across SSSL:
Group Code of Conduct and Ethics, applicable to all affiliates, sets out SSSL’s expectation that all employees should behave in an ethical and law-abiding manner. This Code includes also SSSL’s commitment to respecting the human rights and all applicable laws and international requirements regarding labour as well as to protecting employees.
Dignity at Work Policy sets out SSSL’s ethos that each SSSL employee has a right to work in a safe and supportive environment. SSSL recognises and respects the legal and moral rights of all persons affected by its operations and is committed to providing a working environment free of harassment, discrimination or prejudice. It reaffirms SSSL’s strong belief in the benefits of non-discrimination and equality of opportunity.
Supplier Code of Conduct, under which SSSL requires its suppliers to conduct employee relations in an ethical manner and in compliance with rules stipulated by both international and local laws and industry standards.
Recruitment standards, which require pre-employment checks to be made in line with applicable legislation on all new employees, including a candidates’ eligibility to work.
Risk Assessment and Due Diligence
The risk of slavery and human trafficking within SSSL’s organisation is considered to be substantially diminished through the implementation of the above-mentioned policies. In addition, SSSL seeks to identify and minimise the risk of slavery and human trafficking in its supply chain by endeavouring to select suppliers who adopt high ethical standards which are consistent with SSSL’s corporate beliefs and values, and seeks to build long standing relationships with these suppliers. These standards include respecting the rights of the individuals who are employed by them.
As such, SSSL expects its suppliers (and their subcontractors) to operate their businesses and conduct employee relations in an ethical manner and to meet the requirements stipulated by both international and regional laws and industry standards. The majority of SSSL’s products are sourced from leading manufacturers within Europe who adopt high standards which are consistent with SSSL’s.
SSSL expects its suppliers to have in place policies that enable SSSL to be reasonably assured that they meet the standards expected of them. If a supplier fails to meet these expected standards, SSSL may suspend its relationship with that supplier until the issue is resolved.
This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and is subject to an annual review.
Approved by the SSSL board of directors.
August 2019
Philip Hoy, Director, for and on behalf of SSSL.
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