The ACT Government will bolster protections for workers against modern slavery practices, including through scrutinising supply chains of entities bidding for government contracts.
The ACT Government has strengthened the Ethical Treatment of Workers Evaluation, made under the Government Procurement Act, to require high-risk industries to consider the treatment of workers throughout their supply chains when they tender for government work.
High-risk industries like agriculture, hospitality, ICT hardware, and textiles and garments procurements are included in the legislation. The Evaluation already covers cleaning, security, manufacturing, and construction procurements.
Reputational risk assessments for these sectors will be mandated from 1 January, under the new Government Procurement (Ethical Treatment of Workers Evaluation) Direction 2023 (No 2).
To assess the reputational risk of a supplier, desktop research looks at prescribed legislation, court rulings, administrative tribunal decisions, and other State and Territory government schemes.
“Over this parliamentary term, the ACT Government has been undertaking major reforms to ensure that companies who want to win ACT Government contracts are subject to high levels of scrutiny about the goods they source and how they treat their workers,” said Special Minister of State Chris Steel.
“This means making sure they present evidence that shows they both have appropriate remuneration and working conditions for their own staff, but also other workers where they may obtain goods and services as part of their own business practices.
“We know that modern-day slavery exists here in Australia and around the world, so we’re delivering further legislative changes that will require those sectors to make them show how they are ensuring better working conditions, and how they are assessing risks of modern-day slavery or any other human rights harms across their supply chains.”
The ACT Government will formalise links with the Commonwealth and other state governments on modern slavery to address any risks to ACT Government supply chains.
“We are being very clear and transparent that if supplier has treated workers unethically and has not met their obligations under the Secure Local Jobs Code, they will be barred from participating in the next stage of the procurement process,” Mr Steel said.
“These reforms to the evaluation will be supported by new policy and guidance for industry and government to identify and address the risks of modern slavery during all phases of the procurement lifecycle.”
The ACT Government committed to voluntary reporting under the Commonwealth Modern Slavery Act 2018, starting at the end of the 2024/25 financial year.
“Reporting will include details of what actions the ACT Government is taking to assess and address the risks of modern slavery practices occurring in its operations and supply chains, and collaboration with other States and Territories to stamp out unethical practices by suppliers,” Mr Steel said.
Ensuring ACT legislation can identify and effectively respond to modern slavery is an item under the parliamentary and governing agreement (PAGA) for the 10th Assembly.
