A new procurement process is to be introduced on 1 February next year to ensure Government purchasing contracts are entered with the most ethical suppliers.
Announced by Special Minister of State, Chris Steel, the Ethical Treatment of Workers Evaluation aims to strengthen the Territory’s procurement framework to ensure that Government only does business with companies that do the right thing by their workers.
“The new Ethical Treatment of Workers assessment will also help ensure a level playing field for businesses, so that ethical companies don’t get undercut by firms who don’t take workers’ rights or safety seriously,” Mr Steel said.
“The assessment will be used for procurements that require a Secure Local Jobs Code Certificate, have a total estimated value of $200,000 or more and are conducted by open tender,” he said.
“Under this new process, the Government will assess suppliers against criteria which considers their compliance with the Secure Local Jobs Code and alignment with the Government’s Fair and Safe Conditions for Workers procurement value.”
Mr Steel said the assessment would determine whether a supplier was eligible to proceed for assessment against other procurement criteria like capability and price.
The Minister said the assessment was designed to ensure that Government Agencies considered employment and safety outcomes for workers as a key factor in procurements.
He said the Evaluation assessment and associated guidance materials were developed by Secure Local Jobs Code Branch and Procurement ACT, in consultation with the Secure Local Jobs Branch Advisory Council.
Mr Steel said policy and guidance material on the Ethical Treatment of Workers Evaluation would be available on the Procurement ACT website early next year.
