Human rights in the supply chain
Coles Group is committed to the fair treatment of all workers in our supply chains.
Coles supermarkets engage with more than 750 Coles Own Brand suppliers, operating at over 2,200 sites and located in more than 40 countries. We acknowledge the importance of safeguarding human rights through ethical business practices within this supply chain.
Our Ethical Sourcing PolicyOpens in new window and Ethical Sourcing Supplier RequirementsOpens in new window cover a range of key labour indicators including wages and benefits, working hours, freedom of association, safe working conditions, discrimination, forced or bonded labour, child labour and illegal labour.
The Policy applies to all suppliers providing Coles Own Brand products, fresh produce and meat sold in Coles supermarkets. Other suppliers agree to meet the Policy as part of their contract terms and conditions.
Coles takes a risk-based approach to ethical sourcing across all sites that directly supply Coles Own Brand products, meat and fresh produce.
Supplier Ethical Data ExchangeCollapsed
We were the first major Australian supermarket to adopt the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (Sedex), a global ethical supply chain management platform, in 2016.
To monitor compliance with the Ethical Sourcing Policy, we require all Coles Own Brand, fresh produce and meat direct supplier sites to register on Sedex and complete a comprehensive risk assessment. Direct supplier sites include manufacturing sites for finished products, as well as those that process (or harvest) and pack to supply directly to Coles.
As a result of the risk assessment, suppliers are rated as low, medium or high risk with medium and high risk sites required to be audited by an independent external provider. Audit timeframes are specified by Coles and vary depending on peak times for each industry. For example, fresh produce audits would take place during harvest season when workers are on site.
These requirements provide Coles with increased visibility of its supplier employment practices and enable us to proactively monitor ethical sourcing risks and compliance with the Coles Ethical Sourcing Policy.
Coles also undertakes our own audits to confirm risk assessments, randomly check audit outcomes and respond to specific issues. We use qualified independent auditors for these direct audits.
Coles supply chain workers hotlineCollapsed
In 2015, we established the Coles’ Wages and Conditions Hotline for workers in our supply chain including farms, factories and service providers.
In Australia, employees who work for a Coles supplier can call 1300 532 515 between 8am-8pm, seven days a week to understand more about their conditions of employment or to report unfair labour practices. A poster promoting the service is made available to Coles Own Brand fresh produce and meat processing sites.
Workers for whom English is not a first language, can email wageline@coles.com.au with their telephone number, preferred language and a brief description of their concern.
