The Modern Slavery Act- Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy Statement for the Financial Year 2024/25.

Introduction & Commitment

In accordance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015, Alliance Flooring Distribution Limited (“AFDL”, “Alliance Flooring” or “we”) is committed to a work environment that is free from Human Trafficking and Slavery, forced labour and unlawful child labour. We have a zero tolerance towards modern slavery and are committed to eradicating these practices from our operations and supply chains and taking proactive preventative steps towards this goal. We recognise our responsibility to protect human rights and protect the well-being of individuals affected by our business activities.

Organisation Structure & Supply Chains

Alliance Flooring Distribution Limited, part of Victoria Plc, is a distribution business delivering floorcoverings of all aspects to both Residential and Contract market sectors nationwide.  For more information about our activities visit our website:

www.alliancefdl.co.uk

We have a customer base nationwide and our dedicated teams at each distribution centre specialise in handling and cutting their rolled goods, along with picking and packing their boxed and palletised goods for our fleet to deliver throughout the UK and Ireland.

Policies in relation to slavery & human trafficking

Alliance Flooring Distribution is implementing robust policies and procedures to combat modern slavery. Our policies include a code of conduct that sets out our expectations regarding human rights, labour standards and ethical business practices. We require all employees and suppliers to adhere to these standards. We encourage the reporting of any concerns or suspicions related to modern slavery.

See attached Policy Document

Due Diligence processes

As part of our initiative to identify and mitigate risk we are committed to have systems in place to:

• identify any potential risk areas in our supply chains
• mitigate the risk of slavery and human trafficking occurring in our supply chains
• monitor potential risk areas in our supply chains
• carry out training with our employees to highlight any areas where there may be risk and to encourage the reporting of illegal or ethical conduct

During this financial year we plan to develop and roll-out a more formalised approach to third party due diligence on all parties who may have an impact on the quality, safety or efficacy of our services.  The development of these third-party checks forms part of our continuous improvement plans.

Monitoring & Evaluation

Alliance Flooring Distribution are committed to monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of our anti-slavery measures.  We recognise that as a complex issue, modern slavery requires effort to uncover, we will continue to develop our onboarding and due diligence processes as part of our commitment to continuous improvement.

Training & Awareness

We are committed to communicating our policies and expectations to our employees and stakeholders to enhance their understanding of modern slavery issues. Our initiatives aim to raise awareness, promote ethical behaviour and empower individuals to identify and address any signs of modern slavery within our operations and supply chains.

Reporting and Transparency

We are committed to transparency and will publish this modern slavery statement on our company web sites. This statement will be reviewed and updated regularly to reflect our ongoing and evolving commitment to combatting modern slavery in all its forms. We will also report annually with details of our progress in implementing anti-slavery measures.

Senior Management Approval.

This modern slavery statement has been approved by our senior management team, who fully support our commitment to eradicating modern slavery and human trafficking.

Authorised by:  Phil Yates

Managing Director

Date:                   April 2024

Policies in relation to slavery and human trafficking

We will not knowingly use unlawful child labour or forced labour in any of the products and/or services we provide, nor will we accept commodities, products and/or services from suppliers that employ or utilize child labour or forced labour.

Our recruitment processes are in line with UK employment laws, including “right to work” document checks, contracts of employment, and checks to ensure everyone employed is of legal working age. We offer market-related pay and rewards which are reviewed annually.  We employ directly wherever we can and if we use agency workers we restrict the number of agencies that we use and request those selected to supply confirmation of their processes in relation to the modern slavery act.

We have a supplier charter that commits our suppliers to agree that they:

• Will not use forced or compulsory labour, i.e., any work or service that a worker performs involuntarily, under threat of penalty.
• Will ensure that the overall terms of employment are voluntary.
• Will comply with the minimum age requirements prescribed by applicable laws.
• Will compensate its workers with wages and benefits that meet or exceed the legally required minimum and will comply with overtime pay requirements.
• Will abide by applicable law concerning the maximum hours of daily labour.
• Will not engage in any practice of slavery, servitude, forced labour, compulsory labour and/or human trafficking outside the UK which would constitute an offence if that conduct took place within the UK; and
• Will ensure that any sub-contractors or suppliers from whom they source goods and/or services for incorporation in those supplied to Alliance Flooring Distribution, also adhere to these requirements.

Supplier Charter: Commitment to Anti-Modern Slavery Policy

Alliance Flooring Distribution Limited is committed to eradicating modern slavery, human trafficking, and forced labour from our supply chains. We expect our suppliers and business partners to share this commitment and adhere to the following Supplier Charter:

1. Compliance with Laws and Standards:

1. Suppliers shall comply with all applicable national and international laws, regulations, and standards regarding modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labour, and human rights.
2. Suppliers shall ensure that their own suppliers and subcontractors also adhere to these laws and standards.

1. Anti-Modern Slavery Policy:

1. Suppliers shall develop and implement their own comprehensive anti-modern slavery policy that aligns with the principles set forth in this Supplier Charter.
2. Suppliers shall communicate their anti-modern slavery policy to their employees, suppliers, and subcontractors, and ensure their understanding and compliance.

1. Supply Chain Transparency:

1. Suppliers shall provide accurate and up-to-date information regarding their supply chains, including the origin of raw materials, subcontracting arrangements, and involved entities.
2. Suppliers shall cooperate with Alliance Flooring Distribution in supply chain transparency efforts, such as sharing information, participating in audits, and providing access to relevant records.

1. Risk Assessment and Due Diligence:

1. Suppliers shall conduct regular risk assessments to identify and evaluate potential risks of modern slavery within their own operations and supply chains.
2. Suppliers shall implement appropriate due diligence processes to address identified risks, including monitoring and remediation measures.

1. Code of Conduct:

1. Suppliers shall adopt and enforce a comprehensive code of conduct that includes explicit provisions prohibiting modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labour, and other labour rights violations.
2. Suppliers shall ensure that their employees, suppliers, and subcontractors are aware of and comply with the code of conduct.

1. Compliance Verification and Audits:

1. Suppliers shall allow Alliance Flooring Distribution or its designated representatives to conduct audits or assessments of their facilities, records, and practices to verify compliance with this Supplier Charter and applicable laws.

1. Suppliers shall promptly address any non-compliance findings, implement corrective actions, and provide progress updates.

1. Reporting and Cooperation:

1. Suppliers shall promptly report any known or suspected instances of modern slavery, human trafficking, or forced labour within their operations or supply chains to Alliance Flooring Distribution
2. Suppliers shall cooperate fully in any investigations or remediation efforts related to modern slavery, human trafficking, or forced labour.

1. Continuous Improvement:

1. Suppliers shall continuously review and improve their practices to prevent and address modern slavery risks, based on changing laws, regulations, and best practices.
2. Suppliers shall actively seek opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and industry initiatives to combat modern slavery collectively.

By signing this Supplier Charter, suppliers and business partners demonstrate their commitment to upholding ethical standards and eradicating modern slavery from their operations and supply chains.

Alliance Flooring Distribution Limited and the undersigned supplier agree to work collaboratively in implementing and monitoring this Supplier Charter to create a responsible and transparent supply chain that respects human rights and fosters fair and ethical business practices.

Signature:

Title:

Date:

Supplier Name:

On behalf of Alliance Flooring Distribution Limited

Signature:

Title:

Date:

Supplier Questionnaire: Annual Anti-Modern Slavery Audit

Company Information:

1. Name of the Supplier:
2. Contact Information (Address, Phone, Email):

1. Nature of Business and Industry Sector:
2. Duration of the Business Relationship with [Your Company Name]:

 Modern Slavery Policies and Commitment:

5. Does your company have a documented policy or statement explicitly prohibiting modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labour, and other labour rights violations?

1. Can you provide a copy of your company’s anti-modern slavery policy or statement?

 Supply Chain Transparency:

7. Can you provide a detailed overview of your supply chain, including the countries and entities involved?

1. How do you ensure visibility and traceability within your supply chain to identify potential risks of modern slavery?

 Risk Assessment and Due Diligence:

9. Have you conducted a risk assessment to identify and evaluate potential risks of modern slavery within your own operations and supply chains?

1. What measures or due diligence processes do you have in place to address identified risks?
2. Have you identified any high-risk products, services, or geographical areas within your supply chain?

 Supplier Code of Conduct:

12. Do you have a supplier code of conduct that explicitly prohibits modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labour, and other labour rights violations?

1. Can you provide a copy of your supplier code of conduct?
2. How do you communicate and enforce your code of conduct among your employees, suppliers, and subcontractors?

Audits and Assessments:

15. Have you undergone any independent audits or assessments related to modern slavery or labour rights within the past year?

1. Can you provide details of the audit processes, outcomes, and any corrective actions taken in response to the audit findings?

Training and Awareness:

17. Do you provide training or awareness programs to your employees regarding modern slavery, human trafficking, and forced labour?

1. How do you ensure that your employees understand the risks and signs of modern slavery and are equipped to address these issues?

Reporting Mechanisms:

19. Do you have mechanisms in place for employees and stakeholders to report any concerns or suspicions of modern slavery within your operations or supply chains?

1. How do you address and investigate reports related to modern slavery?

Continuous Improvement:

1. How do you monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of your anti-modern slavery measures?

1. Can you provide examples of any initiatives or improvements implemented to prevent and address modern slavery within your operations and supply chains?

Collaboration and Partnerships:

23. Do you collaborate with external organizations, industry associations, or NGOs to address modern slavery?

1. Are you part of any industry initiatives or working groups focused on combating modern slavery? 

Additional Information:

25. Please provide any additional information or initiatives that demonstrate your commitment to combating modern slavery within your operations and supply chains.

Thank you for your cooperation. Your responses will be treated confidentially and used solely for the purpose of the anti-modern slavery audit.

Signature:

Date:

Ethical Trading Initiative – Base Code

The ETI (Ethical Trading Initiative) Base Code is a set of internationally recognised labour standards that form the foundation of ETI’s work in promoting ethical practices and ensuring the protection of workers’ rights. The ETI Base Code is based on the principles set forth by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and covers various fundamental labour rights. The code is designed to be implemented by companies and their suppliers to ensure fair and ethical treatment of workers throughout the supply chain.

The ETI Base Code consists of the following key elements:

1. Employment is freely chosen:
   • No forced, bonded, or involuntary labour.
   • No human trafficking.
2. Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining:
   • Respect for the right of workers to join or form trade unions.
   • Recognition of the right to engage in collective bargaining.
3. Working conditions are safe and hygienic:
   • Provide a safe and healthy working environment.
   • Adequate measures to prevent accidents, injuries, and occupational hazards.
4. Child labour shall not be used:
   • No employment of children below the legal minimum age for work.
   • Appropriate measures to ensure the effective abolition of child labour.
5. Living wages are paid:
   • Wages should meet at least legal or industry minimum standards.
   • Provision of wages that can meet the basic needs of workers and their families.
6. Working hours are not excessive:
   • Compliance with national laws and industry standards regarding working hours.
   • Voluntary overtime and reasonable working hours.
7. No discrimination is practiced:
   • No discrimination based on race, gender, age, religion, disability, or other protected characteristics.
   • Equal opportunities and fair treatment for all workers.
8. Regular employment is provided:
   • No use of precarious employment arrangements that undermine workers’ rights.
   • Provision of secure and stable employment relationships.
9. No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed:
   • No physical, verbal, or psychological abuse or coercion.
   • Respect for the dignity of workers.

The ETI Base Code serves as a framework for companies and suppliers to assess and improve their labour standards and practices, promote transparency, and collaborate with stakeholders to achieve ethical and responsible supply chains.