Our statement
This statement is made pursuant to section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (the “Act”) and sets out the steps that the Wigglesworth & Co. Limited (the “Company”) 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. This statement constitutes the Company’s slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ended 31 December 2022.
The Company operates a zero-tolerance policy towards forced labour and slavery. The Company's operations are conducted in compliance with the Act and Article 4 of the European Convention of Human Rights.
The Company has considered where its business and supply chains are most at risk of encountering modern slavery and reviewed the existing controls and processes and their effectiveness in guarding against modern slavery.
Our business
The Company is engaged in the international merchanting of natural fibres and their related products, principally sisal and abaca. The Company is the marketing arm for REA Vipingo Plantations Limited, a company based in Kenya that produces raw and spun sisal fibre and a fellow subsidiary of R.E.A. Trading plc.
The Company business is based in the United Kingdom, operating from offices in London, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of R.E.A. Trading plc.
Our policies and processes
The Company operates policies, including a Human Rights policy and a Business Ethics policy, to ensure that no person is held in slavery or servitude, nor forced to perform compulsory labour or provide services. These policies are embodied in all of the Company’s contracts.
All employees of the Company are based in the United Kingdom on standard contracts and terms and conditions of employment. All employees work for the Company of their own free will and no employees are employed on zero hours contracts.
Our suppliers
The Company operates a supplier policy and maintains a preferred supplier list. Due diligence is conducted on all suppliers before they become preferred suppliers. This includes online searches to ensure that a particular organisation has never been convicted of offences relating to modern slavery. The Company’s Anti-Slavery policy forms part of the contract with all suppliers and they are required to confirm that no part of their business operations contradicts this policy.
Our performance indicators
The Company will know the effectiveness of the steps taken to ensure that slavery and/or human trafficking is not taking place within our business or supply chain if there are no reports received from employees, the public or law enforcement agencies to indicate that modern slavery practices have been identified.
This statement was approved by the Board of Directors on 27 April 2023.
Paula Brazier
Managing Director
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