Modern slavery policy

Our Commitment

Borough Market is supportive of the principles of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and the abolition of modern slavery and human trafficking. 

As an equal opportunities’ employer, we are committed to creating and ensuring a non-discriminatory and respectful working environment for our staff. We want all our staff to feel confident that they can expose wrongdoing without any risk to themselves. 

Our recruitment and people management processes are designed to ensure that all prospective employees are legally entitled to work in the UK and to safeguard employees from any abuse or coercion. 

We do not tolerate any organisation, in the UK or abroad, which knowingly supports or is found to be involved in slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour. 

We will fully investigate any concerns raised in relation to this policy and take action to address any breaches immediately. Any issues related to this can be reported confidentially to the CEO of Borough Market: [email protected]

Definitions

We consider that modern slavery encompasses: 

• Human trafficking 
• Forced work, through mental or physical threat 
• Being owned or controlled by an employer through mental or physical abuse of the threat of abuse 
• Being dehumanised, treated as a commodity or being bought or sold as property 
• Being physically constrained or having restriction placed on freedom of movement 

Supply Chains

Due to the nature of our business, we assess ourselves to have a low risk of modern slavery in our business and supply chains. 

Our supply chains are limited, and we procure goods and services from a restricted range of UK and overseas suppliers using a recognised tender process. 

We do however work closely with and support many small businesses and tenants through our work operating a food market and managing property on the estate. This presents a moderate risk that our partners and local operators may unknowingly harbour working practices that increase our exposure to the risk of modern slavery and human trafficking.  As stated in our Food Policy: Traders, lessees, and other stakeholders should take all reasonable measures to ensure that slavery, servitude, forced / compulsory labour or the use of children in the workforce do not feature anywhere in their supply chain. On this basis, we have taken steps to ensure that such practices do not exist in their businesses and activities through clear vetting criteria as part of our due diligence processes. 

Our policies and practices in relation to the Modern Slavery Act

• 2030 Strategy 
• Food Policy 
• Social and Economic Sustainability Working Group 
• Estates letting policy 
• Behaviours policy 
• Equity Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Policy 
• An EDI Steering Group to steer the implementation of the EDI Policy 
• Bullying and harassment policy and procedures 
• Whistleblowing policy 
• Recruitment and selection policy 
• Living Wage Accreditation 
• Living Hours Commitment  
• Comprehensive pay review policy 
• Commitment to Southwark Borough Council’s diversity standard