There is only one disclosure of supplier audit data in the 2019 statement, and it is for the Kerry Group employee helpline previously mentioned. It is noteworthy that this is not a service available beyond EMPLOYEES of the Group, which means the vast majority of supply chain laborers and potential whistleblowers do not have this resource beyond directly contracted Irish suppliers. I have provided a source with further information regarding this Hotline, which reveals that the company "ideally" would like potential complainants to report grievances to their direct supervisor or to "Internal Audit," a department not once mentioned in the MSA statement. I presume this department is a robust compliance bureaucracy which handles internal employee matters as opposed to travelling 6 continents in 5 years like the renowned "supply quality team." It is quite impressive that phone is not the only reporting method--anonymous online reporting is available as well.
"In 2019, there were no reports of trafficking or modern
slavery received through this service" (page 4). It is difficult to understand, at least for the impartial observer, how any sort of data from this statement is intended to hold meaning since the "accomplishments" in terms of supply chain risk management are measured by number of continents travelled and aggregated for 5 years to maximize the illusion of a compliance whereas only 1 year of incident disclosure data is provided and only for the least-likely source of serious slavery/trafficking reports in the entire company. Nothing is reported whatsoever in the supply chain beyond the island of Ireland. The entire point is to protect supply chain laborers, which surely greatly outnumber employees of the firm, from grave human rights violations.
This disclosure is effectively the compliance team shaking one hand with the other because their enormous Irish MNC can report zero employed individuals (only employees have legal right to the whistleblower service) called to report slave labor in the year 2019. I don't know any slaves, but I don't think they qualify for employee rights.
Pg 4
"Where we become aware of ethical issues within our supply chain, we seek to engage with our suppliers directly. We favour working with suppliers to resolve or mitigate issues and where concerns are confirmed, we look for a clear roadmap for positive resolution including implementation of a corrective action plan within a defined period and verification of completion. Where suppliers fail to adequately engage or take the necessary steps to remedy the issues identified, we will take action up to and including termination of the business relationship"