Modern Slavery Statement

Introduction to Parker Road Modern Slavery Policy

Parker Road supports the enactment of the Commonwealth Modern Slavery Act (MS Act), which came into effect in November 2018.

Parker Road is committed to the objectives of the MS Act, which aims to enhance transparency and improve business practices to eliminate modern slavery and related abuses across all business operations, including within its supply chain, both domestically and internationally.

Parker Road seeks to establish clear expectations for its employees and suppliers to remain vigilant about the potential, and often inadvertent, risks of commercial involvement in modern slavery. This requires a collaborative approach among all stakeholders to proactively prevent and address these risks.

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Parker Road modern slavery policy (Policy) serves as a key document, reaffirming its commitment to the principles of the MS Act and outlining the steps for ensuring compliance with its requirements.

 

What is Modern Slavery?

 "Modern slavery" means slavery as traditionally understood, where one person owns or controls another person, or engages in slave trading. The term encompasses situations where individuals are exploited, coerced, or controlled in ways that strip them of their autonomy and freedom. These practices include:

• Forced Labour, where a person is compelled to work under threat, without the ability to refuse or negotiate working conditions. The person is essentially forced into their labour, often under conditions that are exploitative.

• Debt Bondage, where individuals work to repay an excessive or undefined debt. Often, the terms of repayment are not clear or are deliberately manipulated, trapping the worker in a cycle of labour with no clear end in sight.

• Servitude, situations where a person is made to work under duress, coercion, threats, or deception. This form of slavery is marked by a lack of choice, where a person is forced to perform tasks under conditions that violate their basic rights.

• Deceptive Recruitment, where individuals are misled about the nature of work being offered. For example, workers may be promised one type of work but forced into different, often exploitative, conditions once they arrive.

• People Trafficking, the illegal trade of humans for forced labour or sexual exploitation. Individuals are often trafficked across borders or within countries for exploitative purposes.

• Child Labour, the exploitation of children through work that deprives them of their childhood, education, and wellbeing.

 

Forced Marriage and Child Marriage

In addition to these forms of exploitation, forced and child marriages are recognised as forms of modern slavery. Individuals, especially minors, may be coerced or manipulated into marriage, often under duress and without their consent.

All of these forms of abuse involve a significant loss of personal freedom and autonomy. Even if a person could escape their situation, the fact that they do not, or cannot, does not lessen the responsibility of those exploiting them.

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Legal Consequences

In accordance with Australian law, severe penalties are imposed for crimes related to modern slavery, as outlined in the Commonwealth Criminal Code (Criminal Code). These include:

• Engaging in slavery: up to 25 years in prison (s. 270.3 Criminal Code);

• Servitude: up to 15 years in prison (s. 270.5 Criminal Code);

• Forced labour: up to 12 years in prison (s. 270.6 Criminal Code);

• Deceptive recruitment: up to 9 years in prison (s. 270.7 Criminal Code);

• Debt bondage: up to 7 years in prison (s. 270.7C Criminal Code); and

• Trafficking in persons: up to 12 years in prison (s. 271.2 Criminal Code).

 

Additionally, those who assist or are involved in committing these offences may also face penalties.

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An aggravated offence occurs when the victim is under 18 years old, subjected to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, or exposed to a risk of death or serious harm.

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This definition of modern slavery serves as a framework to guide businesses and organisations in identifying and addressing the exploitation of individuals within their supply chains, workplaces, and communities.

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Role of this Policy

In this policy Parker Road outlines the framework, in which to eradicate modern slavery from within:

• our business, recognising that compliance with the objectives of the MS Act starts within our own business; and

• our supply chain, being our suppliers’ businesses, ensuring that they uphold the highest standards, whether or not they are obliged to comply with the objectives of the MS Act.

 

Parker Road Business

Parker Road core business is Indoor Plant Hire/ Artificial Plant Installations. Parker Road services include:

1. Supply of indoor plants to the corporate sector

2. Artificial Plant installation to the corporate sector

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Parker Road’s Employees

Parker Road engages employees directly. Our employment policy is to:

• pay employees in accordance with all applicable industrial obligations arising from modern awards, the Fair Work Act and any other statute or law affecting the employment relationship;

• ensure accurate record keeping for all employees in respect or pay and hours worked;

• pay all superannuation contributions;

• ensure all employees have a lawful right to work in Australia;

• ensure any migrant workers are treated lawfully with regard to terms and conditions of employment, and any applicable visa conditions;

• work in a safe environment, free from physical and psycho-social hazards;

 

Parker Road engages sub-contractors to perform supplementary services.  We do not use labour hire arrangements.

 

Parker Road Supply Chain

Parker Road supply chain includes the acquisition of goods, including chemicals and oils. Parker Road mitigates risk by working with a limited number of suppliers. We import from Parker Road.We take further steps to reduce any association with modern slavery by implementing a high-level supplier approval process, including detailed check lists for suppliers.

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Parker Road supplies to customers in the corporate sector

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In relation to Parker Road supply chain, our policy is to:

• do business only with ethical businesses in Australia and overseas, who share our values

• not use price solely as the reason to determine who we may do business with

• ensure our suppliers collaborate in ensuring that modern slavery practises do not exist either within their own business, or within their own supply chains

• ensure our suppliers have an effective ongoing process to identify, detect and address any modern slavery practices

 

Our approach is to work collaboratively with suppliers, in the event a supplier ever discovers any example of non-compliance.

Parker Road is further committed to working collaboratively with any government or industry regulatory body, whether in Australia or overseas to ensure compliance with the objectives of the MS Act.

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Parker Road recognises that tackling modern slavery requires a continuing commitment.

 

Parker Road board continues to build on its commitment to identify, detect and address all modern slavery risks.

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Application of this policy

This policy applies to everybody who has business dealings with Parker Road.

This includes employees at all levels, directors, volunteers, interns, contractors, external consultants, and business partners.

This policy does not form part of any employment contract.

Parker Road may amend this policy at any time.

Parker Road will also communicate this policy to all suppliers, contractors and business partners.

Any current employee who acts contrary to this policy may face disciplinary action, including dismissal.

Parker Road may terminate its relationship with other individuals and organisations, if they breach this policy.

 

Questions about this Policy

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions about the content or application of this policy, including any improvements, please contact Sue Krop at: sue@parkerroad.com.au