MODERN SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING STATEMENT AS REQUIRED UNDER S54 OF THE MODERN SLAVERY ACT

Introduction

Merseyrail Electrics 2002 Ltd (“MEL”/”us”/”we”/”our”) is committed to ensuring everyone working with us or on our behalf support and fully comply with the relevant laws and, in doing so, we endorse the implementation and promotion of ethical business practices to protect works from being abused and exploited both within MEL and within MEL supply chains. We are committed to improving our practices to combat modern slavery and human trafficking and will continue to take the appropriate steps to eliminating exploitation in the workplace.

Organisation Structure

In 2003, MEL was awarded a 25-year concession to provide rail services on behalf of Merseytravel, the transport authority in the Liverpool City Region. Our two 50 per cent shareholders are Serco Group Plc and Abellio (NV Nederlandse Spowegen).

MEL is an urban network of vital importance to the transport infrastructure and local economy of the Liverpool City Region.

Our Employees

We have 1,161 employees and a number of policies and procedures that ensure all colleagues are treated with respect and dignity regardless of age, gender, marital status, pregnancy, disability, race (including nationality, ethic or national origin), religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. We will not tolerate discrimination, harassment or victimisation of any kind.

MEL proudly embraces diversity and welcomes everyone. We will continue to champion equality and diversity in all that we do, whether that concerns our staff or our customers. Our five key areas of focus are:

  • Support - Working within our communities
  • Attract - Promoting MEL as a diverse employer
  • Recruit - Ensuring we have a diverse recruitment strategy in place
  • Develop - Training our people appropriately
  • Retain - Supporting and encouraging our people to be their best self.

Employees at MEL also have the right to join a trade union and we ensure they comply with all relevant UK laws pertaining to freedom of association and collective bargaining.

Our Supply Chains

Our supply chains include manufacturing, primarily of rail vehicles, parts and uniforms, support services of non-core services (such as cleaning of stations, vehicles and depots) and outsourced IT hardware and software services. As procurement is a centralised function at MEL, we are able to implement the due diligence and contractual processes to provide adherence to MEL’s terms and conditions that support eradicating Modern Slavery.

Our Policies on Modern Slavery

We are committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in our supply chain or in any part of our business. Our procurement procedures and contracts reflect our commitment to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships, implementing and enforcing effective due diligence and contractual compliance to ensure modern slavery and human trafficking is not taking place anywhere in our supply chain.

All staff have access to a whistleblowing process which will allow them to report any concerns that they may have in a confidential and secure manner.

Supplier Adherence to Our Values

We have zero tolerance for modern slavery and human trafficking. To ensure all contractors and those in our supply chain support our values on this subject we require our them to abide by our contract terms.

This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes our modern slavery and human trafficking statement.