NOW Finance is committed to high professional standards and ethics and expects the same from the suppliers and third parties we work with. Our aim is to work collaboratively with supply chain partners and third parties towards a responsible business approach. All third parties with whom we contract are expected to comply with all applicable local and national laws and regulations.
NOW Finance only partners with large, reputable and listed lending entities for its funding. This enables a reasonable level of comfort of the source of funding and allows a level of mitigation of the risk that the funds have been derived through modern slavery practices.
In assessing whether to lend to individuals in Australia, NOW Finance undertakes a stringent due diligence process to ensure the individual is an appropriate candidate for a loan. This includes not only anti-money laundering checks, but also an analysis of the proposed purpose of the loan, the individual’s financial and employment health, and a consideration of whether the individual will be able to repay the loan over the proposed loan term.
NOW Finance’s operations, conducted in Australia, comply with federal and state laws and regulations, not just in relation to consumer credit lending, but also in
relation to employment standards, occupational health and safety and whistleblowing obligations.
NOW Finance has a Whistleblower Policy, and all employees and suppliers are able to report any unethical or unlawful activities they observe, anonymously if required, without fear of retribution or retaliation. Concerns may be raised either internally to the appointed Whistleblowing Officer, or externally to an independent third party (Your Call), an expert in taking, dealing and managing whistleblower concerns for industry.
The NOW Finance HR Policy also covers grievance guidelines for the management of internal concerns, issues or disputes that may arise within the workforce.
With respect to employment practices, we have a comprehensive recruitment program that includes a range of checks for all employees and relevant contractors, comprising background and reference checks, eligibility to work in Australia and where appropriate a criminal history check.
Despite the individuals in Cebu, Philippines, being employed by an outsourced service provider, we nevertheless seek from the provider a copy of each individual’s passport and criminal history check. The outsourced service provider has a contractual arrangement to identify, assess and address risks associated with modern slavery in its provision of services to us.
Apart from the three main outsourced services providers in India and the Philippines, and the limited number of reputable global and local IT and funding suppliers based outside Australia with an Australian presence, NOW Finance sources its inputs products and services from Australian companies and has a documented Outsourcing Policy that is reviewed at least twice a year.
Employee training on modern slavery will form part of NOW Finance’s annual training modules and will be assigned to all staff. This will help staff to understand modern slavery typologies, how modern slavery affects the business and the community and what to do if they have a concern.
As foreshadowed above, a more detailed and updated modern slavery risk assessment will be undertaken of our supply chain so that NOW Finance may devise appropriate controls and execute mitigants that are proportionate to, and appropriate for managing
the specific nature of the risks that are identified.
To the extent that NOW Finance enters into significant supply contracts in the future, we will assess potential suppliers in relation to risks of modern slavery and incorporate enquiries associated with modern slavery in due diligence procedures.
We will also include standardised modern slavery provisions in all future significant supply contracts, requiring representations, warranties and undertakings in relation to modern slavery.