The OEM’s Australian subsidiary has been rewarded for its work on human rights.
Konica Minolta Australia’s work to combat exploitation and its adherence to ethical sourcing and CSR has won the company an Anti-Slavery Australia Freedom Award, reports IT Brief’s Sara Barker.
The subsidiary of the Japanese OEM was nominated for the award due to its CSR and ethical programmes, including anti-slavery and anti-human trafficking initiatives. It says that three crucial documents form the foundation of its human rights framework – a supplier code of conduct, an ethical sourcing roadmap, and a human rights position statement.
“Konica Minolta Australia recognises it has an important role to play in ensuring the rights of those in our business operations and supply chains are upheld and respected. For this reason, we are committed to undertaking an ethical sourcing journey with our suppliers to ensure we have a positive social impact on those within our sphere of influence,” the company said.
The Freedom Awards were launched to raise awareness of slavery and human trafficking in all forms, and to promote the positive difference organisations and individuals can make to trafficked and enslaved people’s lives.
Konica Minolta’s human rights initiatives are aligned with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and it has been an active supporter of legislation surrounding large Australian companies and modern slavery reporting requirements.
Managing Director Dr. David Cooke said: “While modern slavery is a global issue, leadership must begin at home and the private sector is a critical stakeholder. We must hold ourselves, our business partners, and those in the business community to account on issues of human rights in supply chains.”
“These days, being a good corporate citizen is more than philanthropy,” he continued. “Companies must turn inward to assess the impact of their core business and operations. A key consideration is whether business activities, or those of suppliers or business partners, negatively affect human rights. We urge all of our employees, customers, partners, and stakeholders to join us in the fight against modern slavery.”