Mater takes its ethical and sustainable responsibilities seriously.

Since the commencement of the Modern Slavery Act 2018, Mater has undertaken significant work to mitigate the risk of modern slavery within our supply lines.  The Modern Slavery Act defines modern slavery as including eight types of serious exploitation: trafficking in persons, slavery, servitude, force labour, debt bondage, child labour, forced marriage, deceptive recruiting for labour or services.

Although most instances of modern slavery occur off shore, it’s estimated there were more than 1,500 modern slavery victims in Australia between 2015 and 2017.

Mater takes seriously our ethical responsibility to be part of the solution to modern slavery. We are doing this in two ways – firstly, by reviewing our supply chain operations to ensure all our suppliers comply with our Supplier Code of Conduct and secondly, by raising awareness among our people, especially those on the frontline, to recognise the signs and help us mitigate against the issue.

  • There are approximately 40 million victims of modern slavery around the world.
  • 16 million of these victims are exploited in the private economy.
  • Estimated 1,567 “classified” modern slavery victims in Australia between 2015 and 2017.
  • The Walk Free, Global Slavery Index 2018 estimates there were 15,000 living in conditions of modern slavery in Australia in 2016.

Mater has a Zero Tolerance position towards Modern Slavery.  Every supplier must uphold and agree to the Supplier Code of Conduct.  

 

Download and read a copy of Mater's Modern Slavery Statement here.