VOHKUS LIMITED
SLAVERY & HUMAN TRAFFICKING STATEMENT

This policy applies to all persons working for us or on our behalf in any capacity, including employees at all levels, directors, managers, agency workers, volunteers, agents, contractors and suppliers.

Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement 2022 

INTRODUCTION 

This statement has been published in accordance to section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. It sets out the measures undertaken by Vohkus Limited to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking for the financial year ending 30th June 2023.

OUR ORGANISATION

Vohkus Limited is a privately owned in its 22nd year of business and we have a reputation for providing extraordinary service alongside quality, innovative services - always putting our customers at the heart of our business. We employ over 200 staff globally and we recognise the invaluable contribution they make to our success.

OUR SUPPLY CHAIN

We continue to work closely with our supply chain to ensure that all ethical information is up to date. While we are always exploring options to source more products closer to home, continuing to search for the very best products and innovation also sees us looking further afield and from many different countries around the globe.

OUR POLICIES

We are committed to ensuring that as a business we adopt high ethical standards. We also expect all suppliers and partners, wherever they are in the world, to do the same. We recognise it is our responsibility to ensure our suppliers are observing and adhering to our working practices, so we review and improve our policies regularly.
Vohkus company policies directly related to the identification and control of Modern Slavery include:

  • Supplier Code of Conduct
  • Anti-bribery and corruption policy.
  • Whistle blowing policy
    • DUE DILIGENCE

  • As the first point of contact with suppliers, our Purchasing department is responsible for ensuring compliance within the supply chain.
  • As part of our due diligence process, we expect new suppliers and partners to agree and sign up to our ethical declaration to ensure they meet our standards and comply with the requirements of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
  • As part of supplier setup, we carry out risk assessments. These assessments review both the supplier and product type to determine if we need further information. We organise audits or obtain audit reports for those suppliers of products in high-risk countries or industries.
  • For suppliers deemed lower risk, we clearly communicate our Modern Slavery Policy and ask for confirmation of compliance. We also ask branded suppliers to confirm they meet these standards or provide us with their own policy documentation.
  • We assess our main suppliers of services - with risk assessments leading us to appraise our couriers and temporary agencies to ensure they have policies and procedures in place to mitigate the risk of Modern Slavery.
  • We continue to monitor world events, and what impact this could have to our business. Our current focus is on the current conflict in the Ukraine and how this will impact supply. We continue to horizon scan with use of the global transparency index to establish countries of high concern.

MEASURING EFFECTIVENESS

We will continue to refine our risk assessments for suppliers of products and services for compliance with Modern Slavery requirements. We will continue to ensure our supply chain is fully mapped and audits and corrective actions carried out as appropriate.

TRAINING

To establish a wider awareness throughout the business we have now displayed modern slavery posters in key places and further information is available on our intranet system.

APPROVAL

This statement has been formally approved by the board members of Vohkus Limited and signed on their behalf
06 September 2022

Frank O’Leary
Company Director – Vohkus Limited