La Romi LTD / Medicus Caps Modern Slavery Statement
This statement is made pursuant to Section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and sets out the steps that La Romi LTD / Medicus Caps has taken and is continuing to take to ensure that modern slavery or human trafficking is not taking place within our business or supply chain during the financial year 2023.
Introduction
Medicus Caps is unwaveringly committed to the global fight against modern slavery. We stand firm in our belief that every individual deserves to live a life free from exploitation and abuse. This belief is not merely a philosophical stand; it is a commitment that resonates deeply in our everyday operations, shaping the way we conduct our business and interact with our partners, suppliers, and customers.
In an era where modern slavery continues to persist, we understand the importance of our role as a corporate entity in actively working against it. This commitment is not confined to our immediate operations; it extends across our entire supply chain, ensuring that our business activities do not inadvertently contribute to or condone these abhorrent practices.
As a company, we not only comply with all relevant laws and regulations relating to modern slavery, but we also strive to set a standard for ethical and responsible business conduct. We believe that by embracing this commitment, we can contribute to a more equitable and just world.
In this Modern Slavery Statement, we outline the steps we have taken and plan to take to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking in our operations and supply chain. We also provide information on our policies, practices, and procedures designed to ensure that we conduct our business in a manner that respects the rights and dignity of all individuals.
Our commitment to combatting modern slavery is not a one-time effort; it is a continuous journey. We recognize the challenges ahead, but we are prepared to face them head-on. We understand that maintaining the status quo is not enough - we must be proactive in our efforts, constantly seeking to improve our practices and deepen our impact.
This statement is a testament to our dedication to transparency and accountability. We hope that by sharing our efforts, we encourage others to join us in the fight against modern slavery and work towards a world where every individual is treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.
Definition
At Medicus Caps, we unequivocally condemn modern slavery, a heinous crime that encompasses human trafficking, forced labor, and debt bondage.
Human trafficking is a grave violation of human rights, involving the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of individuals through threat, use of force or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, or the abuse of power or a position of vulnerability. It often culminates in the victim being exploited, stripped of their freedoms, and denied their basic human rights.
Forced labor, another facet of modern slavery, is any labor or service that is extorted from an individual under the menace of any penalty and for which the individual has not offered themselves voluntarily. This coercive practice strips individuals of their freedom and their right to fair compensation for their work.
Debt bondage refers to a situation where a person is compelled to work in order to pay off a debt, with the terms of their work not clearly or reasonably defined. The uncertainty and inability to pay off these debts result in conditions akin to servitude, trapping individuals in a cycle of debt and exploitation.
At Medicus Caps, we are committed to ensuring that none of these practices find a place in our operations or supply chain. We believe in the dignity and inherent rights of all individuals and strive to uphold these values in every aspect of our business. We are dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is free from exploitation and abuse, where every individual is treated with respect and equality. We also extend this commitment to our partnerships, ensuring that our suppliers and partners share and uphold these same values.
Our Business
Medicus Scrub Caps produces reusable scrub caps to order and manufactures them in the UK. The only part outside of our direct control is the supply of cotton fabric to us through 2/3 suppliers. We then make to order as we have lots of customisation options. We are an SME business that has been running for over 6 years, offering a range of scrub caps that are made to the highest standards of quality and ethical production.
Our Commitments to Ethical Labor Practices
At La Romi LTD / Medicus Caps, we prioritise the adherence to local, national, and international labor standards, ensuring the dignified and fair treatment of all individuals involved in our business operations. Here are our commitments:
- Adherence to Local and National Laws: We strictly adhere to all applicable local and national laws governing labor practices, working conditions, and human rights.
- Freedom of Employment Termination: Workers have the right to terminate their employment freely with reasonable notice, in accordance with local laws and regulations.
- Freedom of Movement: We respect the freedom of movement of our workers and do not engage in practices that restrict their lawful movement.
- Freedom of Association: Workers have the right to freely associate, organize, and bargain collectively in accordance with the laws of the lands where they are employed.
- Prohibition of Violence, Harassment, and Intimidation: We strictly prohibit any form of violence, harassment, and intimidation in the workplace.
- Prohibition of Worker-Paid Recruitment Fees: We prohibit the use of worker-paid recruitment fees and ensure that our recruitment practices are fair and transparent.
- Prohibition of Compulsory Overtime: We ensure that overtime is voluntary and compensated fairly, in accordance with local laws and standards.
- Prohibition of Child Labor: We adhere to international standards and local laws prohibiting child labor.
- Prohibition of Discrimination: We promote a diverse and inclusive workplace and prohibit discrimination of any kind.
- Prohibition of Confiscation of Workers' Original Identification Documents: We do not retain or confiscate workers’ original identification documents.
- Access to Remedy, Compensation, and Justice: We are committed to providing access to remedy, compensation, and justice for individuals who are victims of modern slavery within our operations or supply chains.
We continuously review and update our commitments to ensure they reflect the evolving legal landscape and the expectations of our stakeholders. Our objective is to promote a culture of respect, integrity, and ethical conduct across our entire business operations and supply chains.
Our Supply Chains
Our surgical caps are made with cotton fabric because they are reusable and hold up well, while being competitive on price due to the widespread production of cotton worldwide. The cotton is sourced through a few select suppliers who are integral to our supply chain.
Our Policies
In dealing with only a few suppliers, we stress to them the importance to us and our clients that products are held to the highest ethical standards, akin to the standards we maintain for our own staff. We are committed to ensuring that our supply chains are free from modern slavery and human trafficking.
Due Diligence Processes for Slavery and Human Trafficking
We are periodically checking in on suppliers to ensure they have an up-to-date modern slavery statement and to ascertain if there are any changes to the supply chain on their end that will affect us. This due diligence process helps us to identify, assess, and manage the risk of slavery and human trafficking in our business and supply chains.
Risk Assessment and Management
We continually assess the risks associated with our supply chains, particularly focusing on our cotton suppliers. Our risk management process includes reviewing our suppliers' Modern Slavery Statements and other publicly available information.
Effectiveness in Combating Slavery and Human Trafficking
Being an SME organisation, we are more reliant on the larger suppliers to respond to the pressure we and other customers give to them. Our effectiveness in combating modern slavery and human trafficking is, to a large extent, measured by the actions and commitments of our suppliers.
Training and Capacity Building
We ensure that our employees and supply chain partners are aware of the issues surrounding modern slavery and human trafficking. Although we are limited in measuring due to relying on the measurements of our suppliers and do not have the resources to conduct factory tours, we attempt to obtain pictures and videos where possible of conditions and require our suppliers to uphold high ethical standards.
Approval for this Statement
This statement was approved by the Board of La Romi LTD / Medicus Caps on 20/Sept/2023.
Signed:
M.Price
Matthew Price, COO,
20th September 2023
