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Article

2 Oct 2017

Author:
Dr Shamir Ghumra, Ethical Corporation

Commentary: New model programme gives construction industry 8 pathways to achieve best practice in addressing slavery in supply chains

"Opinion: 'We Can Tackle Modern Slavery in the Construction Industry,'" 25 September 2017

...[T]he ethical dimension [of sourcing issues], which has only recently emerged as an important issue...is presenting fresh challenges to the [construction] industry. This “dark side” of construction is rife with human rights abuses; bonded labour, delayed wages, awful working and living conditions and limitations of movement. Business models are largely to blame. An industry with constantly fluctuating demand, organisations lean more towards outsourcing and cut-price contracting, making it easier for businesses to neglect their ethical responsibilities and leaving a huge lack of transparency in supply chains...

While public and professional demand for positive brand values and corporate purpose might be strong and rising, the reality can prove different and troubling, even tragic. As a result, a modern-day business operating in the construction sector…can find itself exposed to reputational risk and commercial threat...

The APRES (Action Programme on Responsible and Ethical Sourcing) Eight Pathways Model...presents eight pathways to best practice that takes organisations and individuals from the level of "baseline" to "best in class" performance...

[The pathways refer to] organisation strategy and policies...a continuous improvement of systems [of management systems]...compliance and auditing...the standards and procedures employed for procurement [as well as] [f]inancial management... [It also considers HR and development, the importance of the] availability of information, right up to board level...[and] demonstrating visible leadership, engaging and training from the top [to improve] responsible and ethical sourcing in all areas of [the] organisation...

The APRES Eight Pathways Model holds the keys to progress and success in implementing a strategic plan of action for organisations throughout the world... [refers to Hewlett-Packard]