Introduction from the CEO
We are committed to maintaining the highest standards and continually improving our practices to combat slavery and human trafficking. Modern slavery is a crime and a violation of fundamental human rights. It takes various forms, such as slavery, servitude, forced and compulsory labour and human trafficking, all of which have in common the deprivation of a person’s liberty by another in order to exploit them for personal or commercial gain. We have a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and we are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business dealings and relationships by implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our own business or in any of our supply chains.
We are also committed to ensuring that there is transparency in our own business and in our approach to tackling modern slavery throughout our supply chains, consistent with our disclosure obligations under the Modern Slavery Act 2015. We expect the same high standards from all of our contractors, suppliers and other business partners, and as part of our contracting process, we seek specific assurances against the use of forced, compulsory or trafficked labour, or anyone held in slavery or servitude, whether adults or children, and we expect that our suppliers will hold their own suppliers to the same high standards.
Organisation’s Structure and Business
We are a global reinforcement textile manufacturer supplying products across a wide range of industrial sectors. We have manufacturing plants in the UK and the USA and employ in excess of 250 people globally. We operate through James Dewhurst Ltd and Dewtex Inc. manufacturing woven and non-woven textile products used for reinforcement in a wide range of applications.
Our Supply Chains
Our supply chain consists of established and reputable suppliers based around the world who are well known within the technical textiles industry. The majority of the yarns we purchase originate from Asia with the remainder coming from Europe or the USA.
Our Policies on Slavery and Human Trafficking
We are committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains or in any part of our business. Our Anti-Slavery Policy reflects our commitment to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships, and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to counter slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains.
Due Diligence Processes for Slavery and Human Trafficking
As part of our initiative to identify and mitigate risk we will seek confirmation from our suppliers that they condemn Modern Slavery. We have a Whistleblowing Policy to enable employees to report any suspected instances with confidence. In addition, we are currently reviewing our need to: –
- Identify and assess potential risk areas in our supply chains;
- Mitigate the risk of slavery and human trafficking occurring in our supply chains;
- Monitor potential risk areas in our supply chains.
Supplier Adherence
We have zero tolerance to slavery and human trafficking. To ensure that all those in our supply chain, including contractors, comply we have implemented a supply chain compliance programme. This is currently being rolled out and forms part of our Supplier Approval Process.
Training
To ensure a high level of understanding of the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains and our business, we will ensure that our policy is communicated throughout our organisation and will provide guidance to all appropriate existing and new employees.
Our Effectiveness in Combating Slavery and Human Trafficking
Further Steps
Following a review of the effectiveness of the steps we have taken so far to ensure that there is no slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains we intend to: –
- Continue rolling out our compliance programme to all suppliers
- Investigate methods of monitoring including developing KPI’s to assist in measuring our effectiveness in combating Modern Slavery.
This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes our slavery and human trafficking statement for the Financial Year ending 31st March 2016.
James Dewhurst Ltd
29th September 2016