EmpireCLS Strengthens Partnership with Non-Profit

Secaucus, N.J.—As part of the ongoing partnership with ECPAT-USA in helping to end child sex trafficking, EmpireCLS has implemented its first companywide policy against human trafficking and slavery. The policy sets official anti-trafficking standards and guidelines by which the company will manages day-to-day operations and training requirements. EmpireCLS announced its partnership with the American-based non-profit organization back in 2014.

ECPAT-USA has been advocating for anti-trafficking legislation, promoting corporate responsibility and educating first responders, citizens and youth on the signs of human trafficking and how to take action against it for the past two decades.

According to the organization, 1.8 million children worldwide are exploited by the sex trafficking industry, with 300,000 currently at risk in the U.S. alone. Although this horrific industry is organized by intentionally exploitative parties, many businesses in the tourism and transportation industries play an unwitting role in the harboring and transportation of sexually exploited children.

The new zero-tolerance policy officially outlines efforts EmpireCLS has enacted to prevent any organizational involvement in the use slave labor, including the employment of or doing business with any employee, customer, business partner, vendor or contractor associated with human trafficking. The same zero-tolerance verbiage has been added to all business contracts.

"Establishing guidelines by which EmpireCLS does business with clients and vendors not only minimizes our risk of exposure to the unfortunate matter of human trafficking, but also showcases our commitment to corporate social responsibility and support of our friends at ECPAT-USA," said chairman and CEO David Seelinger.

EmpireCLS took the initiative on corporate social responsibility as the first chauffeured transportation company to sign Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct, an industry-driven initiative with the mission to provide awareness, tools, and support to the tourism industry to prevent the sexual exploitation of children, according to a press release from the organization. EmpireCLS currently trains its chauffeurs and employees on how to recognize and report human trafficking.

For more information on EmpireCLS, visit www.empirecls.com.

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