Question: Does the modern slavery statement define the performance indicators against which the company measures the effectiveness of its actions to combat slavery and trafficking? E.g. number of audits done, number of employee training provided
Answer:
No
8040996
Walk Free
Bestseller AS
2020
Verified by Steward check_circle

The company provides link to the indicators in the statement.

pg. 3

"- Finally, when working to identify potential or actual modern slavery/forced labour issues in BESTSELLER’s value chain, we are also informed by the 11 indicators of Forced Labour defined by the ILO."

...

"3. HUMAN RIGHTS RISK ASSESSMENT AND DUE DILIGENCE PROCESS

BESTSELLER’s latest comprehensive Human Rights Risk Assessment was conducted in 2018 in an integrated process with our Environmental Risk Assessment. The assessment sought to identify BESTSELLER’s potential and actual adverse impacts on human rights enjoyment of people working in our value chain as well as in the communities and societies affected by our business. The assessment was facilitated by a reputable external consultancy company and draws on inputs from our existing supply chain programme as well as inputs from 100+ internal and external stakeholders (including BESTSELLER and supply chain employees and managers, rights holders from local communities, subject matter experts, industry associations, trade unions, NGOs, national resource centres and academics).

The long list of potential adverse human rights risks identified points towards our supply chain and includes issues covered by the eight fundamental ILO conventions. With ILO conventions 29 and 105 targeting forced labour directly, we consider breaches of the remaining conventions as indicators of possible forced labour. Besides the salient risks associated with the core ILO conventions, the process identified three additional salient issues in our supply chain, which can also be considered as indicators of potential forced labour (fire and building safety, living wages and resilient communities). Finally, the assessment confirmed the relevance of our ongoing commitment to positively advance the rights of our own employees and our focus on advancing BESTSELLER’s responsible business practices."

pg. 4

"4. EFFECTIVENESS OF STEPS BEING TAKEN

Supplier assessments and audits are important tools to confirm compliance and identify breaches to our Code of Conduct. Nonetheless, the Factory Standards Programme’s real value lies in the close collaboration between suppliers and BESTSELLER’s experts operating from our field offices. It takes joint and comprehensive dedication, efforts and investments to reach and maintain the ethical level BESTSELLER requires from its supply chain partners. Suppliers are on their side rewarded through more efficient operations, more productive employees and closer ties with BESTSELLER and potentially other customers. Read more about the Factory Standards Programme and our 2019 Sustainability Report ."

Singh Anjali.....2021-09-29 08:53:48 UTC

The effectiveness subheading of the statement does not report on the progress of the company or having defined performance indicators to measure its performance. Therefore, I have changed the answer from Yes to No.

Sofia Gonzalez De Aguinaga.....2021-12-08 23:16:20 UTC