STATEMENT ON COUNTERING SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING THE PARAMOUNT UK PARTNERSHIP (TRADING AS COMEDY CENTRAL) (THE “PARTNERSHIP”)
This statement is intended to confirm and record the Partnership’s strong stance against slavery and human trafficking. It has been approved by the management board of the Partnership as a member of the Paramount group that carried on business in the UK for the financial year ending 31 December 2023.
OUR ORGANISATION
The Partnership is a member of the Paramount group of companies. Paramount is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Its portfolio includes CBS Television Network™, CBS Media Ventures®, Paramount Pictures®, Nickelodeon®, MTV®, Comedy Central®, BET®, Paramount +®, Channel 5®, and Pluto TV™, among others.
PARAMOUNT’S VALUES
Paramount strives to maintain throughout its global operations the highest standards of business ethics and is committed to legal compliance and ethical business practices in all its operations worldwide.
COUNTERING THE RISK OF SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Paramount recognises that modern slavery may exist to a greater or lesser extent in most, if not all, countries and in most industries. Given the number of countries in which Paramount operates, we are aware of the need to address the risk of modern slavery arising in our supply chains. This statement sets out the steps the Partnership is taking in this regard (and is intended to meet the requirements of the UK's Modern Slavery Act 2015).
The Partnership’s core business is television programming, broadcasting and related activities (including content production). For this reason, our business and that of most of our suppliers operate in areas where the roles being performed are largely technical and/or professional, and the risk of modern slavery and human trafficking is low.
We nonetheless take a zero-tolerance approach to slavery and human trafficking. We are not aware of, nor do we have any information to suggest that, any inappropriate labour conditions are present in our supply chains. We apply strict and consistent standards when dealing with suppliers around the world.
OUR ACTIONS
To ensure that all of our suppliers adopt the same high values as we do, Paramount has in place a group-wide compliance programme consisting of a Supplier Compliance Policy that is implemented by the Partnership. Under the provisions of the Policy, Paramount expects our suppliers’ strict compliance to the same high standards that Paramount sets itself in relation to fair and ethical business and employment practices. This includes practices relating to wages, hours, overtime and benefits, health, safety and the environment and those combating improper discrimination and child and forced labour.
Additionally, Paramount has a global code of conduct, the Business Conduct Statement, found at BCS.Paramount.com, which all full-time employees are required to abide by and certify to as a condition of their employment. The Business Conduct Statement also sets out to employees the process for raising concerns internally. Paramount has a whistleblowing policy, directions for raising and escalating concerns, and international hotline numbers (all in the BCS). The latest version of the Business Conduct Statement contains a discrete policy on Complying with International Sanctions and Export Controls, Anti-Boycott, and Modern Slavery Laws – which states: "Paramount complies with all applicable laws that prohibit modern slavery and human trafficking. As such, we take a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and human trafficking, and we are committed to ensuring that modern slavery has no place within our operations and supply chains. These expectations would apply to both Paramount’s own sourcing activities as well as licensees, vendors, and production facilities involved in the manufacture of our products."
In accordance with our zero-tolerance approach to slavery and human trafficking, we and Paramount will immediately investigate any report or allegation involving wrongdoing of this nature and take remedial actions as appropriate.
28 June 2024