Latest Modern Slavery Statement
Our 2023 statement (reflecting the financial year 1st January 2022 – 31st December 2022) is available here.
Asda’s Approach to Modern Slavery
Modern Slavery is an umbrella term which encompasses human trafficking, slavery, servitude, and forced or compulsory labour.
There are many forms of Modern Slavery, and these can impact everyone.
It is always a result of an ACTION (Transfer, Transportation, Receipt, Harbouring, Recruitment) using MEANS (Threats, Coercion, Abduction, Force, Fraud or Deception, Abuse of power with a PURPOSE (Forced Labour, Organ Removal, Servitude, Sexual or Criminal Exploitation, Slavery).
From a business perspective many, if not all, of the forms of Modern Slavery may present a challenge for us or impact our customers and colleagues and we are cognisant to that.
Our actions on Modern Slavery therefore, start with risk assessment and at Asda we look to review all our risks in relation to Modern Slavery across both our businesses and our supply chains.
Forms of Modern Slavery
Human Trafficking
Someone is moved by force, fraud, coercion or deception to be exploited. Exploitation can include; Forced labour, Being made to commit crimes, Being forced into marriage or prostitution, Any other form of modern slavery. Some people are trafficked so that their internal organs can be harvested and sold.
Forced Labour
The definition of forced labour is “all work or service which is exacted from any person under the threat of a penalty and for which the person has not offered themselves voluntarily.”
Bonded Labour or Debt Bondage
Debt bondage is a form of forced labour and happens when a person is forced to work to pay off a debt. They are tricked into working for little or no pay, with no control over their debt. This is thought to be the most widespread form of slavery today.
Domestic Servitude
Someone is forced to work in someone else’s home, perhaps cooking, cleaning and looking after children, with little freedom or pay.
Forced and early marriage
Someone who is married against their will and can’t leave. Most child marriages can be considered slavery.
Criminal Exploitation
Someone is forced into crime such as carrying drugs, forced begging, theft or fraud.
Sexual Exploitation
Victims are forced to perform sexual acts.
Descent-based slavery
Someone is born into slavery; they inherit the status of “slave” from their mother.
Child Exploitation
A child is exploited for someone else’s gain, this can include being trafficked, being forced to become a soldier or marry, or being kept in domestic servitude.
This can take 3 main forms:
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Child Criminal Exploitation
Child Criminal Exploitation occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18. The victim may have been criminally exploited even if the activity appears consensual. -
Child Sexual Exploitation
When a child or young person is exploited they're given things, like gifts, drugs, money, status and affection, in exchange for performing sexual activities. -
Child Financial Exploitation
Child Financial Exploitation, sometimes referred to as 'money muling', is the term used to describe the action of using a young person's bank account to move money obtained from illegal sources.
From a business perspective many, if not all, of the forms of Modern Slavery may present a challenge for us or impact our customers and colleagues and we are cognisant to that.
Our actions on Modern Slavery therefore, start with risk assessment and at Asda we look to review all our risks in relation to Modern Slavery across both our businesses and our supply chains.
The Exploitation Spectrum
Forms of Modern Slavery exist on a spectrum and a typical view of modern slavery is that it happens to someone else. In reality, across the forms of Modern Slavey there are many issues and indictors and individuals experiencing them may experience a spectrum of exploitation.
Modern Slavery Risk Assessment
Risk Assessment is one of the five ‘building blocks’ of the Asda compliance programme. It is the foundation on which the programme is built, allowing resources to be utilised in a risk-aware way, facilitating continuous improvement and simplification, and demonstrating good governance and due diligence.
Risk assessment is a key building block in our programme. In our risk assessment process, we look to consider the likelihood and impact of a specified risk in occurring. As Modern Slavery risks can be significantly differently dependant on whether we are looking at our own businesses or our supply chains, each is treated separately given the complexity of the associated issues. All risks are score and prioritised, and where any gaps may have been identified an action plan is put into place.
Modern Slavery Key Policies and Documents
We have a number of policies in place to help support our Modern Slavery approach and convey our expectations particularly in our supply chains.
Modern Slavery Due Diligence & Governance
Our Modern Slavery programme is delivered via our Legal and Compliance team, and we have a dedicated Modern Slavery Subject Matter Expert (SME) in place to deliver our programme and commitments. This is underpinned by a thorough internal business governance process, with Modern Slavery being one of our ‘Business Fundamentals’ in our overall approach to ESG.
Due Diligence is critical to addressing our Modern Slavery business and supply chain risks, and as such, Asda has key processes and controls in place to mitigate these risks.
For example, within our businesses, on a quarterly basis we undertake Modern Slavery Monitoring, checking our colleague data for potential indicators of Modern Slavery by looking at our colleague data for duplicative records across bank accounts, telephone numbers, emergency contacts and addresses.
Within our supply chains, as an example our standard terms and conditions require that our Suppliers themselves comply with UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 and our supplier onboarding processes include controls to check for compliance from the outset.
Asda also takes the approach that any grievances or whistleblowing with allegations of Modern Slavery are fully investigated via our incident management process, and will look to work with our suppliers where issues may be identified, and we reserve the right if needed to terminate our contracts with suppliers if they are not prepared to take steps to remedy.
Governance is recognised as equally important and our approach in this area has evolved to integrate the subject matter area of Modern Slavery into Asda’s overall ESG strategy which is overseen by our ESG Steering Committee, co-chaired by our Chief People Officer and our General Counsel and Company Secretary. In addition, Modern Slavery risks are reported into Asda’s Compliance, Ethics, Risk and Audit Committee (CERA).
Modern Slavery Training and Awareness
We recognise how important training and awareness in relation to addressing Modern Slavery and this is equally important across our colleagues, suppliers and customers as anyone can be impacted by Modern Slavery. Asda continues to engage these audiences in different ways to train and raise awareness to all.
We train our colleagues through a specific Modern Slavery e-learning module, and raise awareness at key moments every year, UK National Ant-Slavery Day 18th October as an example.
For our suppliers we encourage training and awareness through our partners, making this accessible and free where possible for all.
Our customers are becoming ever increasingly aware of modern slavery where the subject matter is increasingly in news headlines and on social media, and we look to explore opportunities to highlight modern slavery issues more widely.
Responsible Recruitment
A significant factor in addressing Modern Slavery risk relates to recruitment, and Asda is committed to responsible recruitment and supports the Employer Pays Principle.
Key Partners and Memberships in supporting our approach to Modern Slavery
Reporting Modern Slavery
Possibly the most important thing anyone can do to prevent modern slavery issues is to report them. Throughout all of the above, we encourage our colleagues and customers to report anything of concern, no matter if it may seem innocuous. In the first instance if anyone believes there is and an immediate risk to life/safety call 999 and report to the Police.
For non-urgent Modern Slavery issues or concerns, Asda colleagues and customers can report to [email protected].