INTRODUCTION FROM THE FOUNDERS OF RACE EQUALITY MATTERS CIC

Modern Slavery encompasses all acts of slavery, servitude, human trafficking and forced labour.  Race Equality Matters has a zero-tolerance approach to any form of Modern Slavery.  We are, rather, wholly committed to Best Practice in terms of acting ethically and with integrity and transparency in all dealings, and to continuously review our systems and controls to safeguard against any form of modern slavery taking place within the organisation or our supply chain.

Race Equality Matters is committed to ensuring that no act that is a form of modern slavery is tolerated within the organisation and that Race Equality Matters Respect for People ethos prevails in all organisation dealings.  However, it is important to note that we believe this is a low risk area for Race Equality matters as our organisation is community focused. 

1. ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE & SUPPLY CHAINS

Race Equality Matters is a not-for-profit community interest company. Our purpose is to accelerate meaningful change in the workplace—change that is relevant, addresses the workplace issues that ethnically diverse employees face, and is action-oriented and impact-driven.

Our CIC is a small but dedicated organisation committed to promoting race equality in workplaces. We are structured to ensure that our mission of fostering inclusive and equitable work environments remains at the forefront of all we do.

Our team uses a diverse group of professionals with expertise across EDI marketing and community engagement. Our team focuses on working with the community to create solutions managing partnerships, memberships and enquiries from the community. We work with individuals within the community. from the communities we serve, ensuring that our initiatives are informed by lived experiences and remain relevant to the needs of our stakeholders

Where necessary we take a principled approach to our supply chains, aligning with our values of transparency, inclusion, and ethical practice.

By keeping our structure agile and our supply chains value-driven, we ensure that our CIC remains effective, impactful, and closely connected to the communities we serve.

We are committed to ethical and transparent operations, ensuring that no part of our work contributes to slavery, forced labor, or human trafficking.

2. OUR POLICIES

In line with our Respect for People ethos, employees have the freedom of choice to work for or to leave the company upon reasonable notice.  All employees are provided with a clear contract of employment, which complies with UK legislation.

Additionally, in accordance with our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy, all employees are treated in a fair and equal manner and with dignity and respect.  We champion diversity and do not tolerate any form of discrimination, victimisation, or harassment on any grounds, including but not limited to marital or civil partnership status, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, race (including colour, ethnic and national origin, nationality), age, disability, pregnancy and maternity, having or not having dependents, religious belief or political opinion, trade union activity and offending background.

All applicable laws and industry standards on employee wages, benefits, working hours and minimum age are adhered to in all countries of operation, without any unauthorised deductions.  We require any suppliers engaged to observe the provisions of the International Labour Organisation such that any young persons under the age of 18 should not be employed to work at night or for any hazardous work and their employment should not harm the young person’s education, health or physical, mental, moral, or social development.  No young persons may be employed below the age of 16. 

All slavery and human trafficking laws must be complied with including, but not limited to, the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

3. DUE DILIGENCE PROCESSES FOR MODERN SLAVERY

As part of our initiative to identify and mitigate risk we follow the below steps which includes:

• Understanding the key human rights issues by way of continuous awareness and training and formulating a human rights policy and communicating to all employees.
• Reviewing results against our business processes and designing preventative and mitigation measures, implementing, monitoring and reporting to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensuring the company grievance / whistle blowing mechanism is accessible and applicable to all staff, with remediation for impacted individuals.

We encourage everyone associated with Race Equality Matters CIC to report concerns about modern slavery without fear of retaliation. 

4. WHAT WE ARE DOING

Race Equality Matters CIC has in place Grievance / Whistleblowing mechanisms which are available to all employees.

5. TRAINING FOR STAFF

Race Equality Matters CIC staff are expected to comply with all laws, act in accordance with local guidelines and regulations, and to act with integrity and honesty.  We ensure staff have access to any additional information and support they may require with regard to human trafficking, forced labour, servitude, and slavery. Further, in line with our continuous improvement philosophy, training requirements are reviewed as an ongoing exercise and provided as required.

6. MEASURING EFFECTIVENESS

In order to measure our effectiveness in raising awareness and ensuring modern slavery does not take place in any part of our business we regularly review training requirements for all members of staff, and we evaluate potential suppliers requiring them to confirm that they understand and comply with the Modern Slavery Act 2015.  Employees are also encouraged to make suggestions and comments which are reordered and tracked.

Javed Thomas, Co Founder