Modern Slavery Policy

One Water (Global Ethics Ltd) operates a zero tolerance approach to modern slavery. We are committed to acting ethically and with integrity across our business to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere within our business or supply chains. Our approach is grounded in our commitment to respect all internationally recognised human rights.

This policy is aligned with the International Bill of Human Rights (including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights) and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). This policy is also aligned with the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) base code (as a minimum standard) which is founded on the conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and is an internationally recognised code of labour practice. One Water (Global Ethics Ltd) uses this code as a minimum standard and works to exceed these standards.

Under Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act, our organisation is not required to produce a Modern Slavery Statement. This is therefore a voluntary statement. This statement will be reviewed annually and if needed, updated to ensure it remains comprehensive and reflective of best practice.

This statement sets out Global Ethics Limited’s actions to understand all potential modern slavery risks related to its business and to put in place steps that are aimed at ensuring that there is no slavery or human trafficking in its own business and its supply chains.

The Company recognises that it has a responsibility to take a robust approach to slavery and human trafficking, and is absolutely committed to preventing slavery and human trafficking in its corporate activities, and to ensuring that its supply chains are free from slavery and human trafficking.

All suppliers of products and services to One Water (Global Ethics Ltd) will do so in accordance with this Code of Conduct, and as outlined in the Supplier Code of Conduct. For these purposes “Suppliers” include any contractors and suppliers of both goods and services.

We adopt a risk-based approach to identifying our most salient human rights risks across our operations and supply chain. We prioritise vetting our manufacturing and logistics partners, and where appropriate, we request suppliers to provide independent ethical audits (such as SEDEX/SMETA) to verify compliance with this Code.

We ensure that key personnel involved in procurement, human resources, and supply chain management receive regular training to recognise the indicators of modern slavery and understand our escalation procedures.

Global Ethics Limited is a signatory to the UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL COMPACT. As part of this accreditation we have a process of continual reporting of commitments across a number of criteria including Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. Global Ethics Limited is also a certified B Corporation.

1. EMPLOYMENT IS FREELY CHOSEN
1.1. There is no forced, bonded or involuntary prison labour.
1.2. Workers are not required to lodge “deposits” or their identity papers with their employer and are free to leave their employer after reasonable notice.

2. FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION AND THE RIGHT TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ARE RESPECTED
2.1. Workers, without distinction, have the right to join or form trade unions of their own choosing and to bargain collectively.
2.2. The employer adopts an open attitude towards the activities of trade unions and their organisational activities.
2.3. Workers representatives are not discriminated against and have access to carry out their representative functions in the workplace.
2.4. Where the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining is restricted under law, the employer facilitates, and does not hinder, the development of parallel means for independent and free association and bargaining.
2.5. We recognise that access to an effective remedy is a core pillar of the UNGPs. We encourage workers across our business and supply chains to report concerns without fear of retaliation. Concerns can be reported internally via line managers or account managers, or externally to the UK Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline (08000 121 700).

3. WORKING CONDITIONS ARE SAFE AND HYGIENIC
3.1. A safe and hygienic working environment shall be provided, bearing in mind the prevailing knowledge of the industry and of any specific hazards. Adequate steps shall be taken to prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of, associated with, or occurring in the course of work, by minimising, so far as is reasonably practicable, the causes of hazards inherent in the working environment.
3.2. Workers shall receive regular and recorded health and safety training, and such training shall be repeated for new or reassigned workers.
3.3. Access to clean toilet facilities and to potable water, and, if appropriate, sanitary facilities for food storage shall be provided.
3.4. Accommodation, where provided, shall be clean, safe, and meet the basic needs of the workers.
3.5. The company observing the code shall assign responsibility for health and safety to a senior management representative.

4. CHILD LABOUR SHALL NOT BE USED
4.1. There shall be no new recruitment of child labour.
4.2. Companies shall develop or participate in and contribute to policies and programmes which provide for the transition of any child found to be performing child labour to enable her or him to attend and remain in quality education until no longer a child.
4.3. Children and young persons under 18 shall not be employed at night or in hazardous conditions.
4.4. These policies and procedures shall conform to the provisions of the relevant ILO standards.

5. LIVING WAGES ARE PAID
5.1. Wages and benefits paid for a standard working week meet, at a minimum, national legal standards or industry benchmark standards, whichever is higher. In any event wages should always be enough to meet basic needs and to provide some discretionary income.
5.2. All workers shall be provided with written and understandable Information about their employment conditions in respect to wages before they enter employment and about the particulars of their wages for the pay period concerned each time that they are paid.
5.3. Deductions from wages as a disciplinary measure shall not be permitted nor shall any deductions from wages not provided for by national law be permitted without the expressed permission of the worker concerned. All disciplinary measures should be recorded.
One Water (Global Ethics) is a member of the Living Wage Foundation, meaning that staff are paid in line with the Living Wage and London Living Wage.

6. WORKING HOURS ARE NOT EXCESSIVE
6.1. Working hours must comply with national laws, collective agreements, and the provisions of 6.2 to 6.6 below, whichever affords the greater protection for workers. 6.2 to 6.6 are based on international labour standards.
6.2. Working hours, excluding overtime, shall be defined by contract, and shall not exceed 48 hours per week*
6.3. All overtime shall be voluntary. Overtime shall be used responsibly, taking into account all the following: the extent, frequency and hours worked by individual workers and the workforce as a whole. It shall not be used to replace regular employment. Overtime shall always be compensated at a premium rate, which is recommended to be not less than 125% of the regular rate of pay.
6.4. The total hours worked in any 7 day period shall not exceed 60 hours, except where covered by clause 6.5 below.
6.5. Working hours may exceed 60 hours in any 7 day period only in exceptional circumstances where all of the following are met:
this is allowed by national law;
this is allowed by a collective agreement freely negotiated with a workers’ organisation representing a significant portion of the workforce;
● appropriate safeguards are taken to protect the workers’ health and safety; and
● the employer can demonstrate that exceptional circumstances apply such as unexpected production peaks, accidents or emergencies.
6.6. Workers shall be provided with at least one day off in every 7 day period or, where allowed by national law, 2 days off in every 14 day period.*
*International standards recommend the progressive reduction of normal hours of work, when appropriate, to 40 hours per week, without any reduction in workers’ wages as hours are reduced

7. NO DISCRIMINATION IS PRACTICED
7.1. There is no discrimination in hiring, compensation, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement based on race, caste, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, union membership or political affiliation.

8. REGULAR EMPLOYMENT IS PROVIDED
8.1. To every extent possible work performed must be on the basis of recognised employment relationships established through national law and practice.
8.2. Obligations to employees under labour or social security laws and regulations arising from the regular employment relationship shall not be avoided through the use of labour-only contracting, sub-contracting, or home-working arrangements, or through apprenticeship schemes where there is no real intent to impart skills or provide regular employment, nor shall any such obligations be avoided through the excessive use of fixed-term contracts of employment.
8.3. We recognise that temporary and agency labour represents a higher risk for exploitation. We commit to auditing any third-party recruitment agencies we utilise to ensure they comply with right-to-work legislation and do not charge recruitment fees to workers.

9. NO HARSH OR INHUMANE TREATMENT IS ALLOWED
9.1. Physical abuse or discipline, the threat of physical abuse, sexual or other harassment and verbal abuse or other forms of intimidation shall be prohibited.

One Water (Global Ethics Ltd) complies with national and other applicable laws, rules and regulations.

One Water (Global Ethics Ltd) will not knowingly use suppliers who violate applicable laws and regulations.

This policy is reviewed annually by the senior management team to ensure it remains up to date with evolving regulatory requirements, B Corporation standards, and industry best practices.

Signed