Unions are not present in all of the
Group’s Businesses, although all employees have
the right to join a union. Where unions do exist, regular
meetings take place between management and union representatives.
Business Ethics
An ethics policy covering issues such as harassment,
bribery, personal integrity, protection of intellectual
property rights and competition has been circulated
throughout the Group. A training programme concerning
ethics and employee behaviour is in place. All prospective
employees are issued with terms of employment prior
to joining the organisation. These terms incorporate
a code of conduct for employees which include the prohibition
of bribery.
Employee Training
Training is managed at both the Group and Business level.
The Group has recently recruited a Head of Learning
and Development who will be developing Group-wide training
programmes. Each of the Businesses have a process of
identifying and providing for training needs. Training
centres exist within the Businesses such as the BALCO
Learning Centre and HZL’s Technology Institute.
Equal Opportunities
There has been a conscious effort to increase the numbers
of women and minority groups that we employ. This approach
has been implemented across the Group through change
management workshops and a proactive recruitment process.
Equal opportunities and diversity form part of the Group
recruitment policy.
As part of the Group’s approach to equal opportunities,
applications from disabled persons are always fully
considered, bearing in mind the aptitudes of the applicant
concerned. The training, career development and promotion
of disabled persons is expected, as far as possible,
to be identical with that of other employees. In the
event of an employee becoming disabled every effort
is made to ensure that employment within the Group continues
and that appropriate training is arranged.
Contractors
Contractors working for the Group’s Businesses
are protected under the Indian Contract Labour Act,
which covers issues such as minimum wages, health benefits,
health and safety and working hours.
Support to Employees Families
Many of the employees’ families are supported
through the provision of housing, schools, medical and
recreational facilities in the areas in which the Group
operates. In addition, these facilities provided for
employees and their families are made available for
use by others in the local communities.
