Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement

Introduction

Syxsense recognises that it has a responsibility to take a robust approach to slavery and human trafficking.

The information included in this statement refers to the financial year 2021/2022. The directors of Syxsense are fully committed to preventing slavery and human trafficking in its corporate activities, and to adopting a pro-active 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 themselves as such, reluctant to come forward. It is our intention to ensure employees are made aware of the risks of slavery and human trafficking and how to report any concerns. Management will be expected to act upon them.

Our Workforce

We have around 100 members of staff based across the UK and the US. Our staff are largely directly employed and are not in any category which is generally seen to be vulnerable to modern slavery in this country.

Our Supply Chain

We are committed to understanding modern slavery risks and continuously improving its practices to identify and eliminate any risk of slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains. We are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all business relationships, and it is our intention to implement effective and robust controls to ensure slavery or human trafficking is not taking place by using appropriate due diligence measures, such as supplier questionnaires, to ensure that all of our products are responsibly sourced.

Our Policy on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking

We aim to foster an atmosphere where fair employment practices and a safe workplace extend to every member of our workforce. Our company values encompass our expectations of ethical conduct for all employees. Ethical trading considerations are a critical factor within our supplier selection and approval processes and we will ensure that our expectations are communicated and understood both by employees within the business and by our suppliers and contractors.

Policy Commitments 

The directors of Syxsense shall:

  1. Ensure that all staff responsible for directly recruiting workers are aware of issues around third party labour exploitation and signs to look for and adhere to appropriate compliance principles.
  2. Adopt a proactive approach to reporting suspicions of hidden worker exploitation to the Gangmasters Licensing Authority and Police.
  3. Ensure that labour sourcing, recruitment and worker placement processes are under the control of trusted and competent staff members.
  4. Provide information on tackling “Hidden Labour Exploitation” to our workforce through workplace literature, inductions and staff briefings.
  5. Encourage workers to report cases of hidden third party labour exploitation, provide the means to do so and investigate and act on reports appropriately.
  6. Positively encourage and support employees and agency workers to report such exploitation which may be occurring within their communities.
  7. Require labour providers and other organisations in the labour supply chain to adopt policies and procedures consistent with this policy.
  8. Accept that job fees are a business cost and will not allow these to be paid by job applicants. Syxsense will not use any individual or organisation to source and supply workers without confirming that workers are not being charged a work finding fee.
  9. Designate appropriate managers to attend appropriate training and to have responsibility for developing and operating company procedures relevant to the issue of hidden labour exploitation.

Due Diligence 

It is our intention to monitor ethical standards across the business on a regular basis, and Syxsense carries out due diligence processes in relation to those suppliers in our supply chain that may present a high risk of modern slavery. This includes a yearly review of our suppliers and conducting a review of the controls if there is a perceived risk. Syxsense has not, to its knowledge, conducted any business with another organisation which has been found to have involved itself with modern slavery and we will never knowingly accept products or services from suppliers who exploit the people or natural resources within their environment.

Policies

Syxsense has policies and processes in place which aim to minimise the risk of modern slavery and unethical behaviour in our supply chain. These include:

  • Whistleblowing Policy – which encourages staff to report concerns including any related to modern slavery/trafficking and child or forced labour.
  • Recruitment Process – following best practice when recruiting our staff which includes carrying out the required right to work checks.

Training
Syxsense is committed to ensuring all those who have direct responsibility for our supply chains are aware of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, providing training where required.

Continuous Monitoring

Syxsense takes a zero-tolerance approach to slavery and we are committed to ensuring that operations and supply chains are free from slavery or human trafficking. It is our intention for all employees to become familiar with our ethical standards and policies to ensure no slavery occurs within the business, and to encourage employees to report any potential breaches. Our statement is visible for all staff to view on the company’s shared drive and well as being provided during induction. We are committed to reviewing our internal processes at least annually to mitigate any risk of modern slavery or human trafficking.

Statement

This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, has been approved by the directors of Syxsense and will be reviewed at least once annually.