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The Freedom Hub Supplier Code of Conduct for an Ethical Business

Introduction

The Freedom Hub is a business for purpose that exists to help people who have experienced slavery within Australia, and partners in the fight to end global slavery and human trafficking. The Freedom Hub is committed to socially and environmentally responsible procurement to meet the standards of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights and the International Labour Organisation. 

100% of profits from our cafes and events go directly to supporting survivors of modern day slavery, human trafficking and forced marriage. In order to achieve our goals of ending modern-day slavery in Australia we are committed to ensuring our suppliers for our cafés and events have no slavery in their supply chains, which in turn helps to combat slavery globally.   Our  commitment   We are committed to implementing our procurement policy and supplier code of conduct to ensure that the people and environment impacted by our business operations are treated with respect. As a business for purpose with the goal of ending modern slavery in Australia, it is our responsibility to engage and educate our suppliers in ethical procurement and encourage other businesses to do the same. We strive for excellence in procuring goods and services free of modern slavery and are committed to building strong partnerships with suppliers to achieve this goal.   Expectations  of our suppliers   This Supplier Code of Conduct outlines our expectations of suppliers, and their supply chain in supplying goods and services to the Freedom Hub. We have placed particular emphasis on labour and human rights practices which contribute to modern slavery and human trafficking in Australia, and globally.    

We expect that our suppliers will: 

  • Implement management processes to ensure compliance with this Supplier Code of Conduct in the organisation
  • Ensure that this Supplier Code of Conduct is communicated to all sub-contractors and subsidiaries in the local language and in a manner that can be understood
  • Hold their sub-contractors to the supplier expectations contained in this Supplier Code of Conduct
  • Work with their own suppliers to ensure their supply chain meets the principles of this Supplier Code of Conduct

1. Labour and human rights

Suppliers shall be committed to respecting the human rights of all people it impacts through its business operations, both directly and indirectly, as set out in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Labour Organisation’s Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, and Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention. 

All suppliers must comply with applicable international and national/state laws and standards (all applicable laws and regulations) in relation to labour practices and human rights. We expect suppliers to impose the same requirements on their own supply chain where appropriate. Particular attention should be given to the recruitment and treatment of at risk groups, notably migrant workers, refugees and asylum seekers. 

Our suppliers should: 

  • Ensure that no forced labour or involuntary labour is used
    • Forced, bonded (including debt bondage) or indentured labour or involuntary prison labour shall not be used. This includes transporting, harbouring, recruiting, transferring or receiving persons by means of threat, force coercion, abduction or fraud for the purpose of labour or service.
    • There shall be no unreasonable restrictions on workers’ freedom of movement including unreasonable restrictions on entering or exiting company-provided facilities.
    • All work must be voluntary, and employees shall be free to terminate their employment in accordance with established laws, regulations, and rules.
    • Employees must not be required to surrender their government issued identification, passports or work permits as a condition of employment.
  • Have a ‘zero tolerance’ stance on child labour
    • The term “child” refers to any person under the age of 15, or under the age for completing compulsory education, or under the minimum age for employment in the country, whichever is greatest.
    • Young Workers, those under 18 years of age, shall not perform work that is likely to jeopardize their health or safety, including night shifts and overtime. Work shall not interfere with their education or be harmful to their mental, social or moral development.
  • Ensure no recruitment fees are charged
    • Workers shall not be required to pay employers’ or agents’ recruitment fees or other related fees for their employment. If any such fees are found to have been paid by workers, they must be repaid within 90 days.
    • Migrant workers specifically recruited overseas must be provided with a written employment agreement in their native language that contains a description of terms and conditions of employment prior to the worker departing from his or her country of origin.
  • Provide fair working hours and conditions
    • Working hours are not to exceed the maximum set by law, workers shall not be required to work more than 60 hours per 7-day week, including overtime, except in extraordinary business circumstances.
    • Workers shall be allowed at least one day off every seven days.
  • Provide fair wages and benefits
    • Compensation paid to workers shall comply with all applicable wage laws, including those relating to minimum wages, overtime hours and legally mandated benefits.
    • In compliance with local laws workers shall be compensated for overtime at pay rates greater than regular hourly rates. Deductions from wages as a disciplinary measure shall not be permitted.
  • Treat workers humanely
    • There is to be no harsh or inhumane treatment, including any sexual harassment, sexual abuse, corporal punishment, mental or physical coercion or verbal abuse of workers; nor is there to be the threat of any such treatment.
  • Respect workers’ rights to associate freely and bargain collectively
    • Suppliers are to respect the rights of workers to associate freely and communicate openly with management regarding working conditions without fear of harassment, intimidation, penalty, interference or reprisal
    • Suppliers must also respect any legal right of workers to bargain collectively
  • Have a ‘zero tolerance’ stance on harassment and discrimination
    • No form of physical, sexual, psychological or verbal harassment or abuse shall be tolerated
    • Suppliers shall not unlawfully discriminate against any worker on the basis of any grounds, including, but not limited to their age, disability, ethnicity, gender, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or union membership, in hiring and other employment practices such as promotions, rewards and access to training      

2.  Environment  

The Freedom Hub is committed to ensuring the goods and services we procure are environmentally sustainable in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). As a business for purpose, we commit to responsible consumption (SDG 12) and zero harm to the environment (SDG 13, 14 and 15) both directly and indirectly through our business operations. 

All suppliers must comply with international and national/state laws and standards (all applicable laws and regulations) on environmental management. We expect suppliers to impose the same requirements on their own supply chain where appropriate. 

Our suppliers should: 

  • Obtain and maintain the relevant environmental permits and registrations 
  • Use resources efficiently and reduce or eliminate waste through materials-substitution, conservation, recycling and reusing materials and process efficiencies
  • Identify and manage hazardous materials 
  • Manage waste in line with applicable regulations. Wastewater generated from operations, industrial processes and sanitation facilities are to be characterised, monitored, controlled and treated as required prior to discharge or disposal
  • Monitor, control and treat air emissions including volatile organic chemicals, aerosols, corrosives, particulates, ozone depleting chemicals and combustion by-products generated from operations
  • Avoid unnecessary use of packaging and paper and using recycled materials whenever appropriate
  • Improve energy efficiency and use renewable alternatives where possible 3.  Health  and safety   The Freedom hub is committed to ensuring the health and safety of its employees, volunteers, contractors, customers and community. 

Suppliers must comply with applicable international and national/state laws and standards (all applicable laws and regulations) in relation to health and safety management. All suppliers must make proper provision for the health and safety of anyone who may be impacted by their operations. 

Our suppliers should: 

  • Provide a safe and healthy working environment for employees and subcontractors.
  • Keep the workplace at a comfortable temperature, have adequate lighting and be suitably ventilated. Work sites shall be adequately clean and hygienic and have sanitary food, preparation, storage and eating facilities. There shall be clean drinking water, clean toilet and washing facilities.
  • Implement a system to record, monitor and manage health and safety risks and incidents
  • Implement emergency plans and response procedures including emergency reporting, employee notification and evacuation procedures.       

3. Corporate governance and business ethics    

The Freedom Hub is committed to the highest ethical standards in all areas of its operations including its cafe and events. We expect our suppliers to comply with relevant international and national laws, including the United Nations Convention against Corruption, and act ethically in all their operations, relationships and practices. 

Our suppliers should: 

  • Prohibit all forms of bribery, corruption, extortion or embezzlement in its organisation or supply chain.
  • Protect the privacy and data of its suppliers, customers, consumers and employees.
  • Disclose information about their labour, environmental practices, health and safety and business activities and performance in line with the applicable laws
  • Ensure personal activities and interests, and those of employees and subcontractors, do not conflict with their responsibilities to the Freedom Hub
  • Protect and respect the intellectual property of the Freedom Hub 
  • Maintain policies and practices to allow violations, misconduct, or grievances to be reported by workers and addressed without fear of retaliation
  • Provide programs for whistleblowing that provides protection to employee whistleblowers, prohibits retaliation or victimisation, and ensure that their employees are informed of, and knowledgeable about, the whistleblower policy/process

4. Due diligence     

The Freedom Hub commits to working with suppliers for the continual improvement and management of their organisation and supply chains. Suppliers should: 

  • Ensure compliance with local and international law, regulations and customer requirements
  • Obtain executive management endorsements for the organisation’s commitment to comply with the Code
  • Delegate responsibility and accountability for compliance with the Code of Conduct 
  • Assess the risk of modern slavery in the business operations and supply chains based on product, country and industry data from the Global Slavery Index and U.S. Department of Labour
  • Identify risks in areas of labour and human rights, environment, health and safety, and corporate governance and business ethics and implement controls to manage them 
  • Train managers and workers on ethical procurement and put in place a system for whistleblowing that protects employee identity
  • Require their own suppliers and subcontractors to comply with this Code of Conduct and engage them for continual improvement
  • Audit suppliers where there is deemed to be a high risk of modern slavery 
  • Commit to continual improvement of their supply chain towards eliminating modern slavery              

References

More information

Email:  [email protected]   

Website:  https://thefreedomhub.org     

Phone Sydney Café / HQ:  +61 2 8068 9503   

Postal Address: 283 Young Street, Waterloo NSW 2017 Australia

Version  1.0 (updated  19/07/2019)