Preventing hidden labour exploitation

Policy  Date: April 2018

Policy Statement

HR GO PLC and subsidiary companies commits to developing and adopting a proactive approach to tackling hidden labour exploitation. 

Hidden labour exploitation is exploitation of job applicants or workers by third party individuals or gangs other than the employer or labour provider including rogue individuals working within these businesses but without the knowledge of management. It includes forced labour and human trafficking for labour exploitation; payment for work-finding services and work-related exploitation such as forced use of accommodation.  It is understood that it is often well hidden by the perpetrators with victims, if they perceive of themselves as such, reluctant to come forward 

Scope

This policy applies to all locations within HR GO Recruitment, our Joint Ventures and the HR Group plc. 

Responsability 

The Chairman has overall responsibility, although all are and should be aware of this policy contents. 

This policy will be reviewed annually or more often as and when necessary. 

Policy commitments

HR GO Plc and subsidiary companies shall:  

  1. Designate the Compliance Manager to train consultants / managers on “Tackling Hidden Labour Exploitation” and to have responsibility along with the HR Business Partner for developing and operating company procedures relevant to this issue. 
  2. Accept that job finding fees are a business cost, (paid by clients) and will not allow these to be paid by job applicants.  The Company will not use any individual or organisation to source and supply workers without confirming that workers are not being charged a work finding fee. 
  3. Ensure that all staff responsible for directly recruiting workers are aware of issues around third party labour exploitation and signs to look for.  
  4. Ensure that labour sourcing, recruitment and worker placement processes are under the control of trusted and competent employees. 
  5. Adopt a proactive approach to reporting suspicions of hidden worker exploitation to the Gangmasters Licensing Authority and police. 
  6. Provide information on tackling “Hidden Labour Exploitation” to our workforce and others through training, the intranet and induction processes.  
  7. Encourage workers to report cases of hidden third party labour exploitation, provide the means to do so and investigate and act on reports appropriately. 

 

Agreed by: Mr Jack Parkinson, Chairman