Construction firm signs up to fight modern slavery

Another big name from the construction industry has pledged its commitment to cracking down on modern slavery and labour exploitation in partnership with the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA), the UK’s foremost investigative agency for labour abuse.

Aggregate Industries has signed the GLAA Construction Protocol, a joint agreement aimed at bringing an end to labour abuse across the UK.

The firm, which has over 330 sites and more than 4,100 employees, produces and supplies a range of construction materials such as aggregates, asphalt, ready-mixed concrete and precast concrete products.

It also produces, imports and supplies construction materials, exports aggregates and offers national road surfacing and contracting services.

Aggregate Industries joins influential organisations such as the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and companies such as Sir Robert McAlpine and Morgan Sindall Group who have also pledged their support for the GLAA’s protocol.

Donna Hunt, Head of Sustainability for Aggregate Industries, said: “We pride ourselves on being a responsible business, committed to providing ethically sourced products and services.  

“And whilst we have our own programmes focusing on identifying and eradicating the exploitation of vulnerable workers in our supply chain and business operations, we believe that by working collaboratively with other responsible businesses, sharing information and raising awareness, we will all have a much more effective impact in tackling this across the whole industry."

GLAA Deputy Director of Business Change Mark Heath said: “We are pleased to see Aggregate Industries become the latest big player in construction sign up to the protocol and join us in the fight to eradicate modern slavery and labour exploitation across the country.

“Signing the protocol means employers will work in partnership with us to protect vulnerable and exploited workers. They also agree to the sharing of information to help stop or prevent exploitation and pledge to raise awareness of slavery through supply chains within both sectors.

“As more well-known firms put to their names to the protocol, we hope that others follow in their footsteps and commit to protecting workers and the reputation of the construction industry.”