Construction Magazine June 2021 | Page 67

ETHICAL CONSTRUCTION to align with international human rights standards . “ Businesses must do more to root out the causes of exploitation and protect the most vulnerable workers in their supply chains . Investors have a pivotal role to play in ensuring that they do this ,” she said .
Peter Hugh Smith , Chief Executive of CCLA , said : “ Ahead of our focus later this year on the construction sector , we would urge the sector now to make concerted attempts to uncover modern slavery in its own operations as well as those of its supply chain . Firms need to be asking the right questions such as , ‘ is there migrant labour in the supply chain ?’ ‘ Have these workers been charged recruitment fees ?’ Unfortunately , modern slavery is very prevalent , and we all have a duty of care to not benefit in any shape or form .”
Nationwide Building Society is to adopt EcoVadis ’ sustainability rating system to build a more diverse , ethical and green supply chain .
National Regulator for Construction Products launched Residents across England will be better protected as the government takes the next step to ensure materials used to build the nation ’ s homes are safe and tested properly . The National Regulator for Construction Products will be based in the Office for Product Safety and Standards ( OPSS ), which will receive up to £ 10 million in 2021-22 to set up this new function .
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick recently appointed two experts to lead an independent review of the system for

“ Ahead of our focus later this year on the construction sector , we would urge the sector now to make concerted attempts to uncover modern slavery in its own operations as well as those of its supply chain ”

PETER HUGH SMITH CHIEF EXECUTIVE , CCLA constructionglobal . com 67