Modern Slavery Statement and Response Protocol

A regional water utility that provides water and wastewater services to a population of 140,000people (over 60,000 customers) in 54 towns (20,000 square kilometres) who are connected to 37 water supply systems and 26 wastewater management facilities.

The utility had reached the $100M consolidated revenue threshold which required them to formally report against the Modern Slavery Act(2018) requirements. This required the development of their first Modern Slavery statement to accompany its first report lodgement ensuring that the 7 mandatory criteria were clearly articulated.

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A Maestro conducted a current state review, assessment and provided recommendations on the priority areas to address across a multi-year initiative road map for its Modern Slavery compliance reporting.

• Undertake voice of the business and stakeholder engagement
• Review current-state policies and frameworks
• Identify good practices and longer-term goals
• Evaluate current Modern Slavery reduction activities
• Conduct the maturity assessment against the key criteria
• Undertake supply chain mapping at tier 1 and tier 2 to establish/confirm country of origin
• Develop a supplier Modern Slavery questionnaire (to be included in future market-engagement documents)
• Present the interim report the Executive and the Board
• Identify tools, templates, guides, & FAQs needed to support MDS reporting requirements
• Identify system-level changes to aid ongoing reporting
• Identify necessary supplier engagement and uplift requirements
• Socialise recommendations with key stakeholders
• Develop Modern Slavery Position Statement and Response Protocol

The Position Statement was formally presented to the Board for endorsement along with the assessment report containing 17 key recommendations. These recommendations were designed to uplift the organisational awareness and response capability to Modern Slavery risks andr eporting. The report also included an interactive geo-spatial map showing their suppliers, spend categories and spend values.  

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