Modern Slavery Act Statement
Introduction from the Managing Director
Direct China Lighting Ltd recognises that all businesses have an obligation to prevent slavery and human trafficking. We will do all within our power to prevent slavery and human trafficking within our business and within the supply chains thought which we operate. Employees are encouraged to report any concerns they encounter, and senior management have a duty to act upon them.
Organisation's Structure
Direct China Lighting Ltd is part of the National Lighting Group of companies, and is a China based design, sourcing and distribution company with a support office in Dorset, UK. The company has a turnover in excess of £67m.
Our Business
Our business designs, sources, imports and distributes lighting products to many major UK retailers, as well as having online and catalogue based businesses.
Our Supply Chains
Our supply chains include a range of specialist lighting manufacturers based predominantly in Southern China and India.
Our Policies on Slavery and Human Trafficking
Direct China Lighting Ltd is committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains or in any part of our business. We endeavour to ensure fairness in the recruitment, retention and development of all employees and we strive to comply with all applicable employment legislation.
We also seek to provide a work environment where employees are treated with respect, dignity and consideration.
We actively monitor our supply chains and our suppliers to ensure, so far as possible, that slavery and human trafficking are not taking place within those supply chains.
Due Diligence Process for Slavery and Human Trafficking
As part of our commitment to identify and eradicate slavery and human trafficking from within our business and from those businesses with which we interact, we:
• Work closely with our supply chains to ensure compliance with legislative obligations and we expect those organisations to have suitable anti-slavery and human trafficking policies and processes.
• Seek to build long standing relationships with suppliers and to make clear our expectations of ethical business behaviour from them.
• Have in place systems to encourage the reporting of concerns and the protection of whistle blowers.
Supplier Adherence to our Values
Direct China Lighting Ltd has a zero tolerance view to slavery and human trafficking and we expect that view to prevail in our supply chain and contractors.
Senior Managers within Direct China Lighting Ltd are responsible for compliance in their respective departments, insofar as there is perceived to be a risk of encouraging, engaging or sustaining slavery and human trafficking.
Training
To ensure appropriate levels or risk awareness in respect of modern slavery and human trafficking, we provide training to relevant members of staff and, in particular, to senior managers in our procurement department and our personnel department. All Directors in the business have been briefed of the subject and are committed to the measures set out in this policy.
Our Effectiveness in Combating Slavery and Human Trafficking
We believe that internal exposure to human trafficking and slavery is very low due to our reliance upon direct, one to one recruitment processes.
As SEDEX members, we regularly commission third party ethical auditing using the widely recognised SMETA reporting format in addition to our own internal brand of auditing, to verify that slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in our direct supply chains
This statement is made to pursuant to Section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes Direct China Lighting Ltd's slavery and human trafficking statement for the current financial year.
Position: Managing Director