{{ propApi.closeIcon }}
Our industry
Our industry $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Economic research & forecasting Economics Housing outlook Economic reports & data Tailored market research Advocacy & policy Advocacy Policy priorities Position statements Submissions News and inspiration Industry news Member alerts Media releases HOUSING Online
Business support
Business support $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Become an apprentice host Hire an apprentice Why host a HIA apprentice? Apprentice partner program Builder & manufacturer program Industry insurance Construction legal expenses insurance Construction works insurance Home warranty insurance Tradies & tool insurance Planning & safety solutions Building & planning services How can safety solutions help you? Independent site inspections Solutions for your business Contracts Online HIA Tradepass HIA SafeScan Advertise jobs Trusted support & guidance Contracts & compliance support Professional services Industrial relations Member savings Toyota vehicles The Good Guys Commercial Fuel savings See all
Resources & advice
Resources & advice $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Building it right Building codes Australian standards Getting it right on site See all Building materials & products Concrete, bricks & walls Getting products approved Use the right products for the job See all Managing your business Dealing with contracts Handling disputes Managing your employees See all Managing your safety Falls from heights Safety rules Working with silica See all Building your business Growing your business Maintaining your business See all Other subjects COVID-19 Getting approval to build Sustainable homes See all
Careers & learning
Careers & learning $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
A rewarding career Become an apprentice Apprenticeships on offer Frequently asked questions Study with us Find a course to suit you Qualification courses Learning on demand A job in the industry Get your builder's licence Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Find jobs
HIA community
HIA community $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Join HIA Sign me up How do I become a member? What's in it for me? Mates rates Get involved Become an award judge Join a committee Partner with us Our initiatives HIA Building Women GreenSmart Kitchen, bathroom and design hub Get to know us Our members Our people Our partners Support for you Charitable Foundation Mental health program
Awards & events
Awards & events $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Awards Awards program People & Business Awards GreenSmart Australian Housing Awards Awards winners Regional Award winners Australian Housing Award winners 2023 Australian Home of the Year Enter online Industry events Events in the next month Economic outlook National Conference Events calendar
HIA products
HIA products $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Shop @ HIA Digital Australian Standards Contracts Online Shipping & delivery Purchasing T&Cs See all Products Purchase NCC 2022 Building codes & standards Economic reports Hard copy contracts Guides & manuals
About Contact Newsroom
$vuetify.icons.faTimes
$vuetify.icons.faMapMarker Set my location Use the field below to update your location
Address
Change location
{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.text}} {{region}} Change location
{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change location

$vuetify.icons.faPhone1300 650 620

Modern slavery reporting requirements Mandatory Criteria 4

Businesses with an annual consolidated revenue of over $100 million must submit a Modern Slavery Statement outlining the risks of modern slavery in their supply chain within six months of the end of their reporting period (whether that be a financial or calendar year).

In this article

  • Seven mandatory criteria for an MSS
  • What does due diligence mean?
  • What does remediation mean?

Seven mandatory criteria for an MSS

There are seven mandatory criteria for a Modern Slavery Statement (MSS). The information below relates to  Criteria 4, which requires a business to describe what actions the business is taking to assess and address the risks of modern slavery practices occurring in its operations and supply chains.

You must also report on the actions taken by any other businesses that you own or control and should only cover the actions taken during the 12-month reporting period.

The description of the actions taken must include information about due diligence and remediation processes that your business undertakes.

What does due diligence mean?

Due diligence is the ongoing management processes to identify, prevent, mitigate and account for how your business addresses actual and potential modern slavery risks.
There are four parts to due diligence:

  1. Identifying and assessing potential modern slavery practices – for example
    • When engaging a new contractor or supplier, part of your contractor management process may involve asking questions to determine if the contractor displays any indicators of modern slavery risks
    • Engaging with contractors and suppliers to determine how they are addressing modern slavery risks
    • Asking contractors and suppliers to provide an undertaking as part of the contractual arrangements   or agree to a code of conduct in regard to  the risk of modern slavery 
  2. Integrating your findings across your business and take appropriate action to address impacts – for example:
    • Undertake training with your procurement team so they understand modern slavery and what needs to be done if it is suspected in the supply chain
    • Introducing new grievance/whistleblowing policies for your employees and contractors to report any potential risks or concerns about colleagues or supply chain issues
  3. Tracking your business’s performance to check whether impacts are being addressed – for example:
    • Regularly carrying out an internal audit of supplier/contractor screening processes
    • Regularly reviewing internal policies and carrying out appropriate training and refresher training
    • Increasing engagement with suppliers
  4. Publicly communicating what is being done – for example:
    • Publishing your MSS on your website
    • Publicly reporting on any actions the business takes to combat modern slavery.

What does remediation mean?

Businesses that identify that they have caused or contributed to modern slavery must provide for, or cooperate in, the remediation of its impact. This means you should try to ‘make good’ the adverse impact by restoring the victim to the situation they would have be in if the adverse impact had not occurred.

Remediation can take many forms and doesn’t necessarily need to just focus on modern slavery – for example:

  • Taking steps to ensure the harm cannot reoccur
  • Issuing a public apology
  • Offering compensation 
  • Setting up a dispute resolution process, and/or 
  • Stopping certain activities.

If your business did not directly cause or contribute to the harm, but is linked to a business which caused adverse impacts, while not responsible for remediation, it is recommended you work with the business that caused the harm to minimise the impact and prevent reoccurrence. If this is unsuccessful you may wish to cease any further business interaction with such a business.

Effective remediation processes can help you identify issues before they escalate, better manage risks, reinforce your culture, improve morale and wellbeing and strengthen your entity’s reputation.

For further information, view the ‘Guidance for Reporting entities’ published by the Department of Home Affairs.

This information is part of a series on modern slavery reporting requirements aimed at assisting members understand the requirements. See the related documents contained in the ‘What to read next’ section for more information. 

To find out more, contact HIA's Workplace Services team

Email us

Share with your network:
More articles on:
{{ tag.label }} {{ tag.label }} $vuetify.icons.faTimes
Find the latest expert advice, guides and much more!

Contracts Online 


 

The industry’s go-to digital platform. 

No matter the size of the job, a watertight building contract is critical to protect your business, and the current climate presents a great opportunity to go digital with your contracts.

Take me there

Business support


 

Supporting building professionals with custom built services and products.

  • Contracts and compliance support
  • Contracts Online
  • Host an apprentice
  • Insurance Services
  • Managing safety
  • Savings for members and much more!

Explore Business support

2022 National Construction Code - Volume One

Product comes in an A4 binder and will be mailed to you once it's purchased online. Volume One of the National Construction Code (NCC) relates to commercial buildings – Class 2 to Class 9. The code details technical provisions for...

2022 National Construction Code - Volume Two

Product comes in an A4 binder and will be mailed to you once it's purchased online. Volume Two of the National Construction Code (NCC) relates to residential buildings – Class 1 and Class 10. The code details technical provisions ...

2022 National Construction Code - Volumes One and Two

Product comes in an A4 binder and will be mailed to you once it's purchased online. This pack contains Volume One (commercial buildings – Class 2 to Class 9) and Volume Two (residential buildings – Class 1 and Class 10) of the Nat...

HIA Guide to NCC Livable Housing Provisions

Guidance provided by HIA on how to meet the new requirements for house and apartment designs.

HIA Guide to Wet Area Waterproofing

Guidance provided by HIA on the changes to waterproofing of wet areas requirements and what they mean for common solutions and compliance.