Modern Slavery Act UK
UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 Statement
PrintIntroduction
This statement is made pursuant to Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and sets out the steps Louis Vuitton Malletier SA (“LVM”) has taken during its financial year ending 31 December 2016 to ensure that slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour, and human trafficking (collectively, "Modern Slavery") is not taking place in any part of its business or in its supply chains.
LVM, which is closely linked to the LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis-Vuitton SE Group (“LVMH”), is the owner of the Louis Vuitton trademark (the “LV Trademark”) and tradename throughout the world and is active in the creation, distribution and sale of leather goods, luggage, ready-to-wear, shoes, jewellery, watches, sunglasses, perfumes and cosmetics, stationery, accessories and more generally luxury products bearing the LV Trademark (the “Products”).
LVM is the parent company of Louis Vuitton UK Limited (“LVUK”) which sells the Products to clients in the United Kingdom.
LVM purchases the Products which are mainly manufactured through the LV industrial subsidiaries (hereinafter LVM and its industrial subsidiaries together designated as the “LV Group”).
Policies and Practices
LVM’s commitment is to act with integrity in all its business dealings and to promote ethical conduct, to enhance compliance with applicable laws and to provide guidance with respect to business conduct. It has a number of policies that are relevant to this commitment, which set out what LVM expects from its employees, internal business and its external suppliers.
Key Policies are:
· 1. LV Group Suppliers' Code of Conduct (the "LV Suppliers' Code of Conduct") is available upon request.
LV Group requires its suppliers, their suppliers and contractors to share its commitments and act in full compliance with the relevant laws, including all national, local and international laws relating to the management of their businesses.
LV Group requires its suppliers to obtain prior approval before subcontracting any part of their supply chain process and LV Group’s approval is subject to acceptance by the subcontractor of the LV Suppliers' Code of Conduct and all other applicable conditions that LV Group determines.
· 2. Louis Vuitton Ethical Charter (the “LV Ethical Charter") is available upon request.
LVM’s Anti-modern slavery Policy reflects its commitment to acting ethically and with integrity in all its business relationships and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure Modern Slavery including human trafficking is not taking place anywhere in its business or its supply chains.
LVM requires its employees and suppliers, their suppliers and contractors to engage in and promote honest and ethical conduct, comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations in their own area and act responsibly, with due care, competence and diligence when dealing with colleagues, customers, suppliers, agents and intermediaries.
The LV Ethical Charter reiterates the LVMH Code of Conduct and commitment to act to the highest standards of integrity, respect and engagement in their behaviours and in the way that they conduct business every day, everywhere.
The LV Ethical Charter further states that the group companies will inform all of its commercial partners of its ethical principles and expectations and will require its suppliers to comply with the principles set out in the LV Suppliers' Code of Conduct. In particular, this code specifies compliance with social issues to abide, respect and adhere to the company moral and ethical values in the management of the company concerning Human Rights, working conditions, forced labour and environmental issues
Supplier and Contractor Due Diligence
LV Group ensures that its new suppliers are carefully chosen and that, prior to entering into any new contractual relationship with a supplier or contractor, suppliers and contractors are complying with the LV Suppliers’ Code of Conduct.
LVM reserves the right to check adherence of LV Group and its suppliers and contractors to the principles set out in the LV Suppliers' Code of Conduct and to conduct compliance audits at any time. Upon reasonable request, LVM makes sure that LV Group, and its suppliers and contractors shall supply the necessary information and grant access to LVM representatives to verify compliance with the requirements of the LV Suppliers' Code of Conduct. Suppliers and contractors shall further keep proper records to prove compliance with the LV Suppliers' Code of Conduct and provide access to complete, original, and accurate files to LVM representatives.
LV Group suppliers and contractors may be required to improve and correct any deficiency discovered during any such audits.
LVM shall use its reasonable endeavours to ensure that all LV Group supplier and contractor template contracts and the LV Suppliers' Code of Conduct contain provisions requiring LV Group suppliers and contractors to adopt similar anti-modern slavery standards and practices.
Training and Awareness
LVM conducts regular training for its employees to ensure compliance with legal requirements across LVM. The training enables LVM to reduce business risk of non-compliance through efficient processes and reliable data and reporting. All documentation, policies and updates are provided for easy access via the employee portal for all employees.
It is mandatory for all LVM employees to familiarise themselves with this statement. It forms part of the induction training process for new employees. LVM’s aim is to eliminate any risk of Modern Slavery in its business operations and in its supply chains.
This statement is made pursuant to Section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes LVM’s slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ending 31 December 2016.
The Board of Directors of LVM has approved this statement and it has been duly signed by the following director :
Michael Burke
President and CEO
Louis Vuitton Malletier
Date: June 28, 2017