This statement is made by AXA Global Healthcare (UK) Limited (“AGH”), and its associated companies, pursuant to Section 54 of the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 (the “MSA”). Having previously published a voluntary statement as evidence of AGH’s commitment to combatting and preventing slavery and human trafficking within the organisation and its supply chains, this is the first annual statement made by AGH pursuant to the MSA and it sets out the steps that the Company has taken during the 2020 financial year to combat and prevent all forms of modern slavery and human trafficking in their businesses and supply chains. This statement covers the Companies’ direct operations and supply chains.
The AXA Group has a long history of adhering to and promoting strong professional ethics and is committed to conducting its business according to the highest standards of honesty and fairness. This commitment to observing such ethical standards is designed not only to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations in the various jurisdictions where AXA operates but also to earning and keeping the continued trust of its clients, shareholders, personnel and business partners. AXA believes that its success and reputation is not only dependant on the quality of its products and the services provided to its clients, but also on the way it does business. This includes a strong commitment to human rights and therefore, it welcomes the transparency promoted by the MSA.
1. Companies’ structure and business
AGH is part of the AXA Group, a worldwide leader in financial services. As at the date of this Statement, AGH employs approximately 300 employees in the UK. AGH is an intermediary supporting the sales, administration and coordination of international private medical insurance activities dedicated to individuals as well as SME, mid-market and large corporate entities. AGH distribute directly to customers or via brokers. The product offer includes a range of health and well-being services.
2. Companies’ supply chains
The Companies are major purchasers of products and services for the purpose of their internal operations. Their supply chains are the networks of third-party entities directly or indirectly supporting their organisations in the production, distribution and ongoing communication of their products and services to the end customer.
3. Engagements and policies in relation to modern slavery and human trafficking
The AXA Group is committed to respecting internationally recognized human rights principles as defined by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the core standards of the International Labour Organisation and the Guiding Principles for the implementation of the United Nations “Protect, Respect and Remedy” Framework (Ruggie Principles). The AXA Group is also committed to applying international general and sector-specific standards such as the UN Principles for Responsible Investment, the UN Principles for Sustainable Insurance and the UN Global Compact (“UN GC”). Since 2003, AXA adheres to the UN GC and has formally committed to promoting its ten guiding principles, including those on human rights (such as avoiding complicity in human rights abuses and supporting and respecting the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights) and labour standards (such as supporting the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour and the effective abolition of child labour).
In addition, the AXA Group has put in place The AXA Group Compliance and Ethics Guide (the “Guide”)1, which establishes guiding principles and Group-wide policies designed to ensure that all AXA Group companies and their personnel have a common vision of the Group’s ethical standards (including the UN GC principles on human rights, labour standards, environment and anti-corruption) and operate in accordance with those standards. All AXA employees are encouraged to report promptly any practices, actions or conduct that they believe are inappropriate or inconsistent with any of the policies set out in the Guide through their local whistleblowing procedures. Senior officers of AXA entities are asked to submit an annual certification to confirm that they comply with all the provisions set out in the Guide.
The senior officers of AGH all complied with the annual certification process in relation to the Guide in 2020 and were asked to ensure their teams were aware of the Guide and its contents. In addition, AGH also adhere to the AGH Whistleblowing Policy, which details how employees can raise concerns where they believe there may be wrong-doing or improper conduct by senior managers, other employees, suppliers or contractors. This policy is overseen by the AGH Whistleblowers’ Champion, Mattieu Rouot, Non-Executive Director of AGH.
4. Management of the modern slavery and human trafficking risk in the Companies’ operations
AXA acknowledges its responsibility to respect human rights in its operations and conducts its business in compliance with applicable employment regulations in the jurisdictions in which it operates. The Guide sets out protections for AXA’s employees and their rights, in particular, it emphasises that:
In addition, AXA promotes diversity and inclusion by prohibiting any form of discrimination between current, past or prospective staff on diversity dimensions including age, disability, gender identity, ethnicity or race, sexual orientation, marital status or religion through its Diversity and Equal Opportunities Policy.
5. Assessment of AGH’s largest suppliers and due diligence process in relation to AGH’s supply chains
AGH ensures that it works with suppliers that meet the AXA standards with respect to ethics and corporate responsibility through a clearly documented process for supplier selection and contracting.
In accordance with such process, AGH’s standard contractual terms with suppliers include specific reference to AXA’s corporate responsibility requirements, and suppliers are required to provide a formal commitment to uphold the core standards of the UN GC by signing AXA’s “Corporate Responsibility clause”. Notably, the suppliers agree to refrain from using, or accepting that their own suppliers and sub-contractors make use of, child labour (under 15 years old) or forced labour.
Detection of a direct or indirect violation by the supplier of the AXA corporate responsibility requirements is discussed directly with the supplier with a view to establishing a mutually agreed and documented corrective action plan. Where any issue is not resolved satisfactorily, AGH reserve the contractual right to end their relationship with the relevant supplier.
In addition, AGH has the ability to seek to prevent or mitigate adverse human rights impact of certain of their suppliers by the use of an independent third party to assess a number of corporate responsibility topics, including child and forced labour. This process enables AGH to detect the supply chain corporate responsibility risks in respect of those suppliers. AXA UK plc’s procurement team provides AGH access to training and materials in support of the assessment process.
The Board of Directors of AXA Global Healthcare (UK) Limited approved this statement on 10 June 2021 which constitutes AGH’s joint slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ending 2020.
Tom Wilkinson
CEO
AXA Global Healthcare (UK) Limited
¹Available at www.axa.com