It is a key priority for NEXT to ensure we trade ethically, source responsibly and work to prevent modern slavery and human rights issues throughout our organisation and in our supply chain.
Our approach is to implement the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and this influences our work on all aspects of the supply chain. It helps us to recognise and manage the risk of harm associated with unsatisfactory working conditions, discrimination, modern slavery, human trafficking and forced or bonded labour, particularly to the most vulnerable and exploited, such as women and children.
"A company’s ‘salient’ human rights issues are the human rights that are at risk of the most severe negative impact through its activities or business relationships"
(UN Guiding Principles Reporting Framework).
Using the UNGP Reporting Framework we combine the knowledge and experience we gain from working with our global supply chain and business partners, together with learnings from affected stakeholders and NGOs, to look at our business through a "salience lens". This has helped us to assess the greatest risks to people.
See our latest Modern Slavery Transparency Statement for further details.
Continuing to embed respect for human rights across our business is key for our human rights journey. We will continue to apply practices that work and also identify new ways of working.
Looking Ahead - during this year, we intend to:
- Carry out a review of our Human Rights and Modern Slavery Policy.
- Continue to engage with relevant stakeholders on the development of due diligence guidance for businesses.
- Develop systems enhancements to increase supply chain transparency and reporting.
