DECLARATION OF MODERN SLAVERY

In accordance with the Modern Slavery Act 2018, this statement describes the steps Lazika Tea Enterprise has taken and continues to take to assess and mitigate the risks of modern slavery within its supply chain, as well as our review and improvement plans.

Entrance

Modern slavery is a crime and a violation of fundamental human rights. Slavery takes various forms, including servitude, forced labor, and human trafficking, and all share the common characteristic of one person being deprived of their freedom by another for the purpose of exploitation for personal or commercial gain.

Lazika Tea acknowledges its responsibility under the Modern Slavery Act to adopt a strong approach to rejecting all forms of modern slavery and human trafficking. We are committed to promoting and maintaining ethical business practices and policies that prevent the misuse and abuse of workers within our own business and supply chain.

Lazika Tea is committed to limiting the risk of modern slavery occurring within our business and to ensuring transparency in our approach to combating modern slavery throughout our business and supply chain. We expect our employees and suppliers to share our commitment to ensuring that modern slavery does not exist within our business and supply chain.

Kumiss

Lazika Tea is a tea production company based in Rize, Turkey. Lazika produces black, green, herbal, and fruit teas, as well as cold beverages such as kombucha/iced tea. Lazika operates in a rural village in the heart of the tea valley. Sustainability is a core value in everything we do. 90% of Lazika's employees are women and work full-time.

Our operations

Because we value full-time and long-term employment, we believe there is no risk of modern slavery in our directly employed workforce. Lazika is ultimately responsible for ensuring that this policy is consistent with our legal and ethical commitments and that all individuals under our control comply with it. Lazika management at all levels is responsible for ensuring that those reporting to them both understand and comply with this policy, and also receive appropriate and ongoing training.

Our policy outlines open communication channels for employees and suppliers to report misconduct in our business and supply chain without fear of being accused.

Lazika prohibits all forms of modern slavery and strives to educate and influence its employees and suppliers to ensure that no form of modern slavery is present in their commercial operations or supply chain.

Lazika employees, contractors, subcontractors, vendors, suppliers, partners, and other individuals with whom Lazika conducts business must not engage in any practices that constitute any form of Modern Slavery. Any employee who violates this policy by engaging in or conspiring to engage in any Modern Slavery conduct will face disciplinary action. This may include immediate termination for misconduct or gross misconduct in the most severe circumstances, and legal action may be taken against the employee if warranted.

In addition, Lazika ensures safe and fair working conditions for all its employees in accordance with minimum age laws in the countries where it operates, and prevents child labor.

Our Supply Chain

Lazika expects the same standards from all its suppliers and, as part of its contracting processes, includes specific prohibitions against the use of anyone employed through forced, compulsory or illegal labor, or held in slavery or servitude, whether adult or child, and we expect our suppliers to hold their own suppliers to the same standards.

Most of our supplier's operations are based in Australia. Because their operations are based in Australia and they are required to comply with the Modern Slavery Act in their own supply chains, we believe that these suppliers have a lower risk of modern slavery in their supply chains.

However, our purchasing activities involve buying goods and services from potentially high-risk suppliers located in or sourcing their goods from high-risk countries, such as the supply of uniforms and promotional items.

In these cases, Lazika will make every effort to ensure that the procurement of these goods and services is carried out in a way that, to the extent reasonable, enables these entities to fulfill their obligations under the Law. The scope of due diligence carried out in the procurement process will depend on the types of goods or services procured.

Examples of possible due diligence studies include:

  • Self-assessment/certification that the supplier complies with various regulations;
  • a copy of the supplier's most recent Modern Slavery statement (if available);
  • details of the structure and operations of supply chains; and/or
  • Details of measures taken by the supplier to manage and address the risks of modern slavery in the supply chain. If included in a contract offered as part of a tender, a provision ensuring compliance must be considered.

In summary, Lazika aims to raise awareness and strengthen our understanding of the risks of modern slavery in our business, supply chain, and region. We encourage openness and will support anyone who, in good faith, expresses genuine concerns, even if those concerns prove unfounded. Lazika will continue to review our policies and procedures to ensure we have robust governance processes in place to meet our modern slavery compliance requirements.