Operating with integrity

We are committed to upholding and respecting human rights. In 2017-18 we published our first Group-wide Modern Slavery Act statement.

We welcome the UK Government’s Modern Slavery Act. We’re committed to playing our part in helping to prevent any incidence of modern slavery in our business and supply chain.

Our Modern Slavery Act statement can be found on our website by clicking here.

We are committed to upholding and respecting human rights. In addition to obeying the laws, rules and regulations of every country in which we operate, we support the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Labour Organization Fundamental Conventions. They cover freedom of association, the abolition of forced labour, equality and the elimination of child labour.

We extend these commitments into our supply chain by requiring our suppliers to comply with our Responsible Procurement Code of Conduct.

Modern slavery refers to any activity that impinges human freedom through servitude, forced and compulsory labour, and human trafficking. Royal Mail Group is committed to playing its part in helping to prevent any incidence of modern slavery. We expect the same level of commitment from all of our business partners, suppliers and contractors, and for them to do the same within their respective supply chains.

To demonstrate our commitment, in 2017-18 our actions focused primarily on:

• assessing modern slavery and human trafficking risks within our business and supply chains
• developing risk mitigation strategies in line with the individual risk profiles of the businesses within the Group
• reviewing our approach to due diligence and ongoing monitoring of those contracted to perform work on our behalf; and
• raising awareness via communications, training and guidance to clearly outline our expectations of our employees.

Kristin Hughes, head of corporate responsibility & community investment, said: ‘Modern slavery is an international crime affecting more than 40 million people around the world. This global issue transcends age, gender and ethnicities.

‘At Royal Mail we have updated our Modern Slavery statement to ensure greater transparency in our supply chain. We do not condone slavery and we will take any necessary action to abolish it from within our supply chain.’