A supplier questionnaire can tell us a great deal, but it cannot show us everything about a workplace. During FY24, COS team members visited four overseas factories that manufacture private or exclusive label products for COS, adding in-person observations to our modern slavery risk checks.
Our Modern Slavery Statement FY24 explains how we broadened our due diligence, trained more of our team and followed up on a concern raised by a customer. It covers the year ended 30 June 2024 and was approved by the COS Board and director Belinda Lyone on 19 December 2024.
Seeing more of the supply chain
At the four factories, members of our strategic sourcing team conducted what we call sensory audits. These visits use direct observations of the workplace to help identify potential risks to workers, including modern slavery risks.
We also expanded our annual review beyond products we sell. During FY24, COS reviewed service providers who visit our Australian sites at least quarterly, looking at matters including labour hire practices, employment policies and workplace safety. Cleaning and maintenance services are among the areas covered by this work.
Helping more people recognise a concern
Modern slavery risks can be difficult to spot, so awareness across the business matters. In FY24, we introduced general modern slavery training for all new employees, continued specialised training for people in relevant roles and provided further education for our modern slavery working group. We also placed awareness posters in break rooms across COS facilities.
A customer reported one suspected instance of modern slavery involving a supplier with a supply chain in India. Our modern slavery working group investigated the concern with the supplier and identified no modern slavery concerns. We increased the supplier’s risk rating so we can continue to monitor it closely.
What will COS focus on next?
In FY25, we plan to continue factory visits, with a target of at least five sensory audits. We will also focus further on apparel and workwear suppliers, cleaning services and third-party labour hire agencies, and review how our risk assessment approach applies to suppliers of services and other goods used to run our business.
The more we learn about the workplaces and people behind the products and services we source, the better placed we are to identify concerns and act on them.
Read the full COS Modern Slavery Statement FY24.
