Opus 2 Group – Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement
The statement sets down Opus 2 International Limited and its group undertakings’ (collectively “We”, “Us”, “Our”) commitment to preventing slavery and human trafficking in our business activities and the steps we have put in place with the aim of ensuring that there is no slavery or human trafficking in our own business and supply chains. We all have a duty to be alert to risks, however small. Staff are expected to report their concerns and management to act upon them.
As part of our commitment to preventing slavery and human trafficking in our business activities, we will:
- Identify and assess potential risk areas when considering taking on new suppliers and regularly review our existing supply chains.
- Review the potential for risk at regular intervals and take appropriate action;
- Protect whistle blowers; and
- Maintain awareness and ensure a high level of understanding of the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking.
After due consideration, we have not identified any significant risks of modern slavery, forced labour, or human trafficking in our supply chain. However, we continue to be alert to the potential for problems.
Policies
We are committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in our business or our supply chains. This Statement affirms our intention to act ethically in our business relationships. This Statement, together with our Anti-Bribery, Whistleblowing, Corporate Social Responsibility policies and our Employee Handbook, affirms our intentions to act ethically in our business relationships.
Last year we published our Supplier Code of Conduct which sets out the standards Opus 2 expects all our suppliers to adhere to.
Due diligence processes for slavery and human trafficking
Only a select group of personnel, operating at management level, are permitted to engage suppliers. This enables us to control and retain visibility on supplier engagements and ensure all proper due diligence checks are completed.
We engage third party personnel in respect of our transcription services, such as transcribers and loggers/court reports. This is predominantly undertaken via a direct contractual arrangement between Opus 2 and the person or persons who will be performing the services. This helps ensure our personnel do not face, for example, unlawful withholding of wages or excessive work hours.
Risk is minimised by utilising our own in-house recruitment capability as the first option and only using reputable agencies with appropriate accreditation and always verifying the practices of any new agency we are using before accepting workers from that agency, to ensure low risk, where recruitment is outsourced. When we engage the services of a recruitment company, this is done following appropriate due diligence and ensuring that all such recruitment companies comply with all legal requirements, including in respect of preventing slavery and human trafficking. We perform background checks on all such personnel including but not limited to DBS, identity and right to work checks, in accordance with applicable laws.
Our supply chain also comprises third-party organisations that support the technology services side of our business and provide general services related to the operational requirements of our business. We work only with reputable organisations that commit to upholding the highest ethical standards. We conduct due diligence (including but not limited to, where applicable, research regarding the supplier’s group structure, business activities and locations and reviewing codes of conduct published by the supplier, asking for client references) on suppliers prior to engaging them and all engagements are performed subject to written agreements.
Training
To ensure a good understanding of the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking in our business and supply chains, staff undergo relevant and role-based training. As our business grows and expands, we will continue to ensure that training is updated to ensure that all relevant personnel continue to have a full understanding of the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains and our business.
Recruitment
We recruit and select employees in a fair, lawful and professional manner, both for internal and external candidates and treat all employees fairly during their employment. We provide fair working conditions for all our employees, including terms and conditions of employment, remuneration, working hours, health and safety, resting time, holiday entitlements and benefits.
Reporting grievances
All staff have access to grievance mechanisms to report incidents or suspected incidences of modern slavery, including a formal whistleblowing policy which is clearly and explicitly communicated that no individual will suffer any detrimental treatment as a result of reporting any incidents or suspected incidences.
This Statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes Opus 2’s slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year beginning April 2024. It has been approved by the Board of Directors, who will review and update it annually.
Name: Oliver Clark
Position: Director
Date: 7 May 2024
Signature: 