Modern Slavery - A Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement
What is modern slavery?
Modern slavery is a fundamental breach of human rights.
It is a global industry which takes many forms, such as slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour, and human trafficking.
It is the responsibility of organisations and individuals around the world to eradicate this practice which, according to a 2016 UN study, claimed more than 40 million victims in that year alone.
It is, therefore, of critical importance that organisations ensure that slavery and human trafficking are not taking place in their businesses or in any of their supply chains.
The law on modern slavery
The Modern Slavery Act 2015 came into force in the UK on 29 October 2015.
It created specific offences aimed at tackling slavery and human trafficking.
The legislation also requires commercial organisations, incorporated or carrying on business in the UK, supplying goods or services with a turnover in excess of £36 million,
to publish a slavery and human trafficking statement each financial year in order to demonstrate the steps it has taken to ensure that slavery or human trafficking are not taking place in its business or its supply chains.
Our business
Gofer Mining is a global business with 350+ staff in 12 locations. The business has a number of suppliers, consultants and contractors working in a range of sectors.
Gofer Mining has in place a comprehensive due diligence process for each of our clients, stakeholders and third parties we deal with in a number of our jurisdictions where we operate and we are committed to implementing this across the business as we continue to expand.
We also have in place an on-boarding process for employees in each jurisdiction which complies with national laws, such as evidence of right to work, contracts of employment and ensuring employees or apprentices are 16 or over.
The business is committed to corporate social responsibility, the purpose of which is to build relationships and leave a lasting legacy on society and the environment. More information can be found here.
The risks
In the sector in which Gofer Mining operates the risk of modern slavery is low but that does not mean that we take our responsibilities lightly.
While we have in place a number of controls and initiatives to tackle modern slavery and other criminal behaviour, there are still steps we want to take in order to ensure that such abhorrent practices do not form part of our business or the businesses of our clients, stakeholders and third parties we deal with.
Our aim is to make all stakeholders aware of our collective responsibilities in relation to modern slavery and put in place systems and controls to monitor suppliers across jurisdictions in accordance with their assigned risk-rating.
Gofer Mining is committed to making all employees aware of modern slavery and its ramifications as well as putting in place a procedure, as part of our whistleblowing policy and procedure, for confidentially reporting any suspicion of slavery or human trafficking.
Our policy
Gofer Mining and the wider Gofer Corporation group of companies, and the entities which fall thereunder, adopts a zero-tolerance approach to slavery and human trafficking and all forms of corruption and bribery directly and indirectly associated with these criminal acts.
We are committed to ensuring that slavery or human trafficking does not form part of our, or our clients’, stakeholders’ and third parties we deal with, business. We also aim to support a culture where any suspicion of modern slavery is raised with us in confidence and without delay.
Gofer Mining's slavery and human trafficking statement is reviewed annually.