Modern Slavery Act Statement 2024
Modern day slavery is a global and growing issue worldwide, we have a zero-tolerance approach across all of our operations and supply chain. We need to be alert to the risk and encourage all our staff and supply chain to report any concerns immediately. We encourage respect and openness throughout our business platforms.
Cotton Traders Limited
Cotton Traders is a British retail company offering a wide range of leisurewear, outdoor & casual clothing as well as footwear and homeware. We employ over 826 people in the UK in our stores, distribution centre and at our Head office.
We have over 80 factories in 15 countries that produce our clothing, footwear, accessories and home products, all of which are signed up to our Ethical Trading Policy.
We behave in a responsible and ethical way and take modern day slavery and human trafficking extremely seriously. We are fully committed to taking action to combat modern day slavery and human trafficking and also to uphold human rights across all of our business and our supply chain.
Knowing our Supply base is fundamental to our business to ensure that we approach the issue of dealing with modern day slavery and human trafficking.
Our Policies
We require all of our suppliers and factories involved in the manufacture of goods to comply with our Ethical Trading Policy. Within our Ethical Trading policy, it clearly highlights that our suppliers have an obligation to ensure that employment is chosen freely.
We will only work with suppliers who provide their employees with a safe and healthy working environment. Suppliers must conform to the labour and Health Laws of the country of manufacture as a minimum.
Our Suppliers shall recognise the dignity of the individual. They will not use slavery, involuntary prison or forced labour.
They will afford the rights of lawful free association and collective bargaining to all Employees and the right to a workplace free of harassment, abuse, degrading treatment or corporal punishment.
They will respect their Employees private and family life and their right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
Due Diligence
We work with independent auditing companies to ensure that our factories comply with our Ethical Standard policy.
The audit process supports and facilitates our commitment to continued improvement of all our factories, to ensure that the employees are working in a safe clean environment and in accordance with all applicable local legislation.
In such circumstances when an audit fails, we work closely with the factory to deal with the issues until they are resolved.
If we bring a new supplier into the business, we first request any third-party audits to be submitted. These have a maximum life span of no longer than 12 months, which will help us make a decision if we can move forward. An independent audit is then actioned to our own standards.
Cotton Traders has taken action to ensure that all Cotton used in its manufacture of products via its supply chain is not being sourced from the Xinjiang region of China.
Our Commitment
We will continue to work alongside our factories with regard to modern slavery and be committed to continuously review and improve our procedures to prevent modern day slavery in our business.
This statement was approved by the Board of Cotton Traders LTD.
Nick Hamblin, CEO | May 2024