News

CITIC Pacific Mining (CPM) has joined forces with other major Western Australian energy and resources companies to develop a practical toolkit to pre-screen for modern slavery risks within supply chains.

Central to the toolkit is a self-assessment questionnaire for suppliers, requiring the identification of modern slavery risks and areas for further due diligence, along with improved transparency in employment practices.

The toolkit was developed in collaboration with Fortescue Metals Group, South32, Anglo American, INPEX, Gold Fields, Iluka Resources, Western Power, Synergy and ATCO.

“We’re pleased to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with these companies to tackle what is a global issue,” CPM Chairman and CEO Chen Zeng said.

“It’s estimated 40 million people are affected by work practices which fit the description of modern slavery.

“As leading corporate citizens, we cannot turn a blind eye to what happens beyond our mine gate.  It is important suppliers understand that we all have a role to play in ending this scourge.”

The term modern slavery is used to describe situations where coercion, threats or deception are used to exploit victims and undermine or deprive them of their freedom.  It covers practices such as human trafficking, slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour, forced marriage and child labour.

As well as the supplier self-Assessment questionnaire, the toolkit includes FAQs and Walk Free Foundation Guidance – “Understanding Modern Slavery” – all available in English, Mandarin, Spanish and Japanese.

The toolkit is open source and can be downloaded from www.baliprocessbusiness.org.

Developed and launched by the industry working group as a pilot program, other companies are invited to use the toolkit.

Walk Free Chief Executive Officer Jenn Morris said: “We commend the design of this open source document that supports the mandatory reporting requirements of the Australian Modern Slavery Act.”

“This approach reduces the administration of monitoring yet increases the efficiency and effectiveness of driving better outcomes in identifying the risks of modern slavery.”

By working together, the industry group aims to help end modern slavery and advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8 to “promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.”

The toolkit complements CPM’s Anti-Slavery Policy.