Modern Slavery Statement for Merton Cleaner

Merton Cleaner is committed to conducting business with integrity, transparency, and respect for human rights. This Modern Slavery Statement sets out the steps we take to prevent slavery, human trafficking, forced labour, and exploitation within our operations and supply chains. We recognise that modern slavery can occur in many forms, and we maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward any practice that undermines dignity, freedom, or lawful employment.

Our commitment applies to all areas of the business, including recruitment, subcontracting, procurement, and service delivery. We expect every employee, contractor, and supplier to act ethically and to uphold the same standards. Compliance with labour laws and fair working practices is a fundamental requirement in everything we do.

We understand that the risk of modern slavery may exist in sectors involving cleaning services, labour supply, facilities management, and outsourced support. For that reason, we take a proactive approach to identifying, preventing, and addressing risks before they become harm.

Our Policies and Due Diligence

Merton Cleaner requires all staff involved in hiring, purchasing, and contract management to follow due diligence procedures designed to reduce the likelihood of exploitation. These procedures include verifying the legitimacy of suppliers, checking labour arrangements, and reviewing working conditions where appropriate. We aim to ensure that all workers are employed voluntarily, are of lawful working age, and receive fair treatment.

We also review our internal policies to make sure they support ethical practice. This includes standards relating to recruitment, pay, working hours, disciplinary action, and grievance handling. Any concern suggesting forced labour, coercion, withholding of documents, or unsafe conditions is escalated immediately for investigation.

Training is provided where necessary so that relevant colleagues can recognise signs of modern slavery and understand how to respond appropriately. By promoting awareness, we strengthen our ability to identify risk early and act responsibly.

Supplier Audits and Contract Expectations

Supplier relationships are an important part of our modern slavery controls. We carry out supplier audits and assessments based on risk, with higher scrutiny applied to suppliers operating in sectors or regions where vulnerability may be greater. Audits may include document checks, labour practice reviews, and confirmation that workers are engaged freely and lawfully.

All suppliers are expected to comply with our ethical standards and to demonstrate that they do not use child labour, forced labour, debt bondage, or any form of exploitation. Where concerns are identified, we may require corrective action, additional monitoring, or termination of the relationship if the issue cannot be resolved satisfactorily.

We also seek to include contractual clauses that reinforce our expectations on human rights, lawful employment, and transparency in supply chains. These requirements help ensure that our modern slavery standards extend beyond direct operations and into the wider network of business relationships.

Reporting Channels and Safeguarding

Merton Cleaner encourages all employees, contractors, and suppliers to report any suspected breach of this statement or any concern linked to modern slavery. Reporting channels are designed to support early intervention, prompt assessment, and appropriate action. We treat concerns seriously and aim to protect individuals who raise issues in good faith.

Reports may relate to unexplained restrictions on movement, signs of intimidation, poor accommodation, excessive deductions from pay, or workers who appear unable to speak freely. Any allegation is handled with sensitivity and confidentiality, and the matter is reviewed by responsible decision-makers in line with our internal procedures.

We do not tolerate retaliation against anyone who reports a concern or assists in an investigation. This safeguard is essential to creating a culture where people can speak up without fear and where potential abuse can be addressed quickly.

Annual Review and Continuous Improvement

This Modern Slavery Statement is reviewed annually to ensure it remains effective, relevant, and aligned with legal requirements and business changes. The review considers incidents, audit findings, supplier performance, training activity, and any emerging risks that may affect our operations or supply chain.

Where improvements are needed, we update our policies, strengthen controls, and refine our due diligence methods. We believe that preventing modern slavery is an ongoing responsibility, not a one-time task. Continuous review helps us keep our standards high and respond to new challenges with diligence and care.

Merton Cleaner remains committed to ethical business conduct, fair treatment, and respect for every person connected to our work. By applying strong policies, conducting supplier audits, maintaining clear reporting channels, and reviewing our approach each year, we work to ensure that our business and supply chain remain free from modern slavery.