Modern Slavery

Sage Design and Advisory has people at the core of our values. It is in this spirit that we denounce slavery in all of its forms.

What is modern slavery?

Modern slavery is depriving a person of freedom for commercial gain and in violation of fundamental human rights.

Offenders who perpetrate modern slavery, use coercion, threats or deception to exploit their victims and undermine their freedom. Modern slavery involves serious exploitation.

Modern slavery can take many forms including:

  • Slavery- owning a person, trading in slaves or financing slave trading (i.e. human trafficking)

  • Forced labour- forcing a person to work by coercion or threats (and servitude is when that person’s freedom is significantly restricted)

  • Forced marriage- a marriage without free and full consent- e.g. due to lack of understanding or under duress or coercion

  • Debt bondage- a person works to pay off a large debt, for an unlimited time or where the value of the work is not applied to the debt

  • Deceptive recruiting- a recruiter charges a fee for the job offer, confiscates identity documents, deceives a person about personal freedom or their ability to leave the job

  • Child labour- not always unlawful but not tolerated by us when it involves exploiting children, depriving them of education, making them work in unsafe working conditions, etc.

Modern slavery can be complex and multi-faceted. It can also be difficult to identify.

Indicators of modern slavery

Modern slavery indicators may include where a person:

  • is not in possession of their own passport, ID or travel documents

  • is acting as though they are being instructed or coached by someone else

  • allows others to speak for them when spoken to directly

  • is dropped off and collected from their workplace

  • is withdrawn or appears frightened or has physical indicators of slavery such as injuries

  • is unable to to contact friends or family freely

  • has limited social interaction or contact with people outside of their immediate environment

  • presents a story which has obvious errors

  • acts with hostility or has difficulty concentrating due to trauma

  • has few possessions

  • has little or no control over their finances or not access to a bank account, or they are being significantly overcharged for their accommodation

  • is living in a very poorly maintained and overcrowded place.

These indicators are not exhaustive and do not necessarily mean there are modern slavery practices. Sometimes there may be over reasons or circumstances that indicate that something is not right.

Our responsibilities

Sage Design and Advisory takes its responsibilities in relation to preventing and stopping modern slavery very seriously. All staff, regardless of seniority have a responsibility to take reasonable steps to ensure the organisation and its supply chain is free of modern slavery practices. This includes paying close attention to the high-risk areas, particularly in relation to supply chains and outsourcing in at risk jurisdictions.

Some areas of our business are likely to have more exposure than others, including procurement and sourcing, human resources, finance, risk, sustainability, projects, legal and leadership.

Examples of specific responsibilities include:

  • participating in required training about modern slavery practices

  • leading by example, ensuring appropriate checks on all employees, recruitment agencies, suppliers, etc. to ensure we know who is working with or for us

  • remaining alert to indicators of slavery

  • using only approved contracts which include modern slavery clauses

  • obeying instructions and appropriate legislation, including the Modern Slavery Act 2018.

Sage Design and Advisory has established a Modern Slavery Policy, which includes further information regarding our controls, roles and responsibilities and procedures for those wishing to report concerns regarding modern slavery in relation to the organisation’s business.