Modern Slavery Statement
MODERN SLAVERY STATEMENT
ORGANISATION
This statement applies to COTU Limited (referred to in this statement as ‘the Organisation’).
ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
COTU Limited is a provider of Cloud based unified communications solutions. The company is based & operates from its office located in Bidford on Avon, UK where its employees are based.
COTU Limited’s board constitutes its major shareholders, headed by the CEO.
DEFINITIONS
COTU Limited considers that modern slavery encompasses:
- Human trafficking;
· Forced work, through mental or physical threat;
· Being owned or controlled by an employer through mental or physical abuse of the threat of abuse;
· Being dehumanised, treated as a commodity or being bought or sold as property;
· Being physically constrained or to have restriction placed on freedom of movement.
COMMITMENT
COTU Limited acknowledges its responsibilities in relation to tackling modern slavery and commits to complying with the provisions in the Modern Slavery Act 2015. COTU Limited understands that this requires an ongoing review of both its internal practices in relation to its labour force and, additionally to supplier network.
COTU Limited has a Zero Tolerance approach to slavery and human trafficking.
COTU Limited does not enter into business with any other organisation, in the United Kingdom or abroad, which knowingly supports or is found to involve itself in slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour.
No labour provided to COTU Limited in the pursuance of the provision of its own services is obtained by means of slavery or human trafficking. COTU Limited strictly adheres to the minimum standards required in relation to its responsibilities under relevant employment legislation in the UK.
We are committed to paying the living wage as a minimum salary to all employees.
STEPS
COTU Limited carries out due diligence processes in relation to ensuring slavery and/or human trafficking does not take place in its organisation or supply chains, including conducting a review of the controls of its suppliers.
COTU Limited has not, to its knowledge, conducted any business with another organisation which has been found to have involved itself with modern slavery.
In accordance with section 54(4) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, COTU Limited has taken the following steps to ensure that modern slavery is not taking place:
- Reviewing supplier contracts to include termination powers in the event that the supplier is, or is suspected, to be involved in modern slavery;
· Measures in place to identify and assess the potential risks in its supply chains;
· Undertaking impact assessments where applicable of our services upon potential instances of slavery;
· Creating action plans where applicable to address risk to modern slavery;
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
COTU Limited set the following key performance indicators to measure its effectiveness in ensuring modern slavery is not taking place in its supply chains.
- Carrying out random checks.
· Having a channel of communication with employees within our supply chain.
· Ensuring our suppliers have got Modern Slavery Statements.
TRAINING
Morden Slavery is part of our employee induction & training. This is to effectively implement company’s stance on modern slavery. We ensure all employees have access to our Grievance procedures as part of their induction.
COVID-19
At COTU Limited we understand that COVID-19 may have made some workers more vulnerable to modern slavery during the coronavirus pandemic. We have committed to adopting all government guidelines for COVID-19 secure workplaces and to paying statutory sick pay in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
COMPLIANCE
This statement is made in pursuance of Section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes our statement for the financial year 2023-2024. It was approved by the Board of Directors. It will be reviewed for each financial year.