Modern Slavery Policy 2023

Statement

This statement sets out the steps that John Astley & Sons has taken and is continuing to take to ensure that modern slavery or human trafficking is not taking place within our business or supply chain.

Modern slavery encompasses slavery, servitude, human trafficking and forced labour. We are committed to acting ethically and with integrity and transparency in all business dealings and to putting effective systems and controls in place to safeguard against any form of modern slavery taking place within the business or our supply chain.

 

Our policies

We operate a number of internal policies to ensure that we are conducting business in an ethical and transparent manner. These include:

1. Anti-slavery policy. This policy sets out the organisation’s stance on modern slavery and explains how employees can identify any instances of this and where they can go for help.
2. Recruitment policy. We operate a robust recruitment policy, including conducting ‘eligibility to work in the UK’ checks for all employees to safeguard against human trafficking or individuals being forced to work against their will.
3. Whistleblowing policy. We operate a whistleblowing policy so that all employees know that they can raise concerns about how colleagues are being treated, or practices within our business or supply chain, without fear of reprisal.
4. Code of business conduct. This code explains the manner in which we behave as an organisation and how we expect our employees and suppliers to act.

 

Our suppliers

John Astley & Sons operates a supplier policy and maintains a preferred supplier list.  We conduct due diligence on all suppliers before allowing them to become a preferred supplier.  This due diligence includes an online search to ensure that particular organisation has never been convicted of offences relating to modern slavery and on site audits which include a review of working conditions.  Our anti-slavery policy forms part of our contract with all suppliers and they are required to confirm that no part of their business operations contradicts this policy.

 

In addition to the above, as part of our contract with suppliers, we require that they confirm to us that:

1. They have taken steps to eradicate modern slavery within their business
2. They hold their own suppliers to account over modern slavery
3. They adhere to our ethical policy.
4. They hold at least one of the following factory audits; WRAP, SEDEX or BSCI.
5. The factory makes audit reports available to Astleys.
6. (For UK based suppliers) They pay their employees at least the national minimum wage / national living wage (as appropriate)
7. (For international suppliers) They pay their employees any prevailing minimum wage applicable within their country of operations
8. They will allow UK employees to audit the factories when requested.
9. We may terminate the contract at any time should any instances of modern slavery come to light.

 

Training

We regularly conduct training for our procurement/buying teams so that they understand the signs of modern slavery and what to do if they suspect that it is taking place within our supply chain.

 

Signed on behalf of John Astley & Sons Ltd

 

Signed:                                                                                    Reviewed: 19/06/2023

David Astley

Operations Director

 

Reviewed Annually