Policies - Human Rights Policy
Effective date: 3 February 2026
Policy owner: Operations and Impact Director
Approval: Nkuku Chief Executive Officer
Nkuku respects internationally recognised human rights and seeks to prevent, identify and address adverse human rights impacts connected with our business, products and supply chain.
Scope
This policy applies to Nkuku employees, agents, suppliers and business partners. We expect everyone working with or on behalf of Nkuku to act consistently with these commitments.
Our commitments
- Respect the dignity, rights and wellbeing of workers and communities.
- Prohibit forced labour, human trafficking, debt bondage and child labour.
- Support fair pay, lawful working hours and freely chosen employment.
- Promote safe and healthy working conditions.
- Reject harassment, abuse and discrimination, including discrimination related to gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, life situation, beliefs or political affiliation.
- Respect freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, where permitted by law.
- Provide and promote accessible channels for raising concerns without retaliation.
- Work with suppliers and partners to prevent harm and support appropriate remedy when problems occur.
Our priority human rights areas
Our due diligence focuses on the areas where our business and supply chain may have the greatest potential impact. These include fair pay and living wages, working hours, health and safety, child and forced labour, worker voice, discrimination, informal and homeworking, natural material sourcing, gender equity, migrant and contract labour, and community livelihoods.
Read more about our salient human rights issues and the steps we take to manage them.
Due diligence and supplier expectations
We assess human rights risks through supplier onboarding, risk assessments, Sedex and SMETA information where available, document reviews, supplier visits, worker engagement and ongoing monitoring. Suppliers are expected to meet the requirements in our Responsible Sourcing Manual and to communicate these expectations through their own supply chains.
Where an issue is identified, we seek to understand its cause and severity, agree corrective actions and monitor progress. We may suspend or end a relationship where serious harm is not addressed or where a partner is unwilling to improve.
Training and responsibilities
Relevant teams receive training and guidance on responsible sourcing, modern slavery risks and grievance handling. The Operations and Impact Director oversees implementation, with responsibility shared across teams that select, manage and communicate with suppliers and partners.
Raising a concern
Employees, workers, suppliers, customers and other stakeholders can raise concerns confidentially and without fear of retaliation. See our guidance on raising a grievance and our Stakeholder Grievance Policy.
Governance and review
This policy is reviewed at least annually and updated when our risks, operations or recognised good practice change. It should be read alongside our Modern Slavery Statement.
International standards
Our approach is informed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.