• Employees and society
  • Society as the pillar of sustainability activities of the KGHM Polska Miedź Group

Society as the pillar of sustainability activities of the KGHM Polska Miedź Group

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In its relations with clients, employees, external partners and local communities, the KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. Group complies with the laws which are in effect in the countries where it operates. The Group also complies with voluntary obligations resulting from ISO and ASTM standards as well as from membership in international organisations such as International Copper Association, European Precious Metals Federation, Eurometaux, Euromines, the London Bullion Market Association, the European Technology Platform on Sustainable Mineral Resources, the European Innovation Partnership, and domestic organisations, including: the Polish Association of Listed Companies, Association of Non-Ferrous Metals Engineers and Technicians, the Economic Chamber of Non-Ferrous Metals and Recycling, the Polish Committee of the World Mining Congress, the Polish Chamber of Chemical Industry, the Polish-Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Polish Chamber of Commerce for High Technology, and the Employers’ Organization of Polish Copper. The KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. Group does not participate in undertakings which involve breaking the law and pose a threat to its reputation.

The principles applied by the KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. Group with respect to social activities are as follows:

  • we comply with the provisions of law and internal regulations in effect in KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.
  • we keep our obligations written in contracts as well as verbal promises made to our clients, suppliers and social partners.
  • we duly perform our professional duties.
  • we do not offer or accept bribes or other material or personal benefits; we also do not cooperate with companies of doubtful reputation.

Social dialogue and cooperating with local communities in theKGHM Polska Miedź S.A Group

Social dialogue and cooperation with the local governments of the Copper Basin is reflected in the updated “Strategy of the KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. Group to the year 2030 with an outlook to 2040” adopted by the Company’s Supervisory Board on 14 January 2022. The updated Strategy does not alter the Company’s current approach to its business activities. KGHM continues to act responsibly and to think long-term about the Company’s future.

One of the strategic areas for KGHM is to grow based on the idea of sustainable development and safety and to enhance the Group’s image as a socially responsible organisation. Partnership with local communities is the result of KGHM’s sensitivity to the needs of the environment in which it operates. The social context is just as important to a company as economic considerations. Implementation of KGHM’s social responsibility policy has a positive impact on local entrepreneurship and the economic situation. KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. builds good relations with local communities, local government and non-governmental organisations. KGHM listens to the voice of all key stakeholders at the local level. The company is also a key employer in the region and a significant payer of taxes, as well as a moving force behind various educational, cultural and health-oriented activities for the residents of the regions where it operates. KGHM’s social responsibility is also reflected in its support for local initiatives through sponsoring and donations, from Group companies and from the KGHM Polska Miedź Foundation. In recent years, KGHM has been placing special emphasis on the support for families.

Lidia Marcinkowska-Bartkowiak
Executive Director, Communications
  • 403-6
  • on the occasion of the birth of a child, written congratulations were given to the employees in a personalised letter, as well as an inspirational book on parenting matters and small gifts. In 2021, one Copper Basin town also got involved in the initiative by introducing gifts for newborns,
  • training was made available for parents through Tato.Net workshops, as well as the opportunity to participate in the annual fathers’ forum organised by the same foundation,
  • 18.5 thousand employees of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. and 17 companies of the KGHM Group took part in the Dwie Godziny dla Rodziny (Two Hours for the Family) campaign on the occasion of International Family Day,
  • an annual Programme for Depression Prevention and Mental Health Promotion was initiated
  • cooperation with institutions responsible for family foster care was deepened and a number of activities aimed at promoting foster parenthood were carried out.

In October and December 2021, an employee survey was conducted in KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. and PLN 6 was donated to orphanages specified by the employee for each completed questionnaire. As a result, more than PLN 61,000 was donated to social care centres in the Copper Basin region.

Despite the pandemic, pro-family activities were also intense in 2021. The activities were adapted to the epidemic situation and were conducted for the most part in an online format:

  • More than 3700 pupils and 1300 parents participated in the subsidised recommendation programmes,
  • Within the framework of recommended programmes for families, more than 50 editions of meetings were held and about 700 parents were trained.
61,000
PLN
was donated to social care centres in the Copper Basin region

In 2020, the naMIEDZI application was launched, which promotes family and individual tourism in the Copper Basin (24 routes and over 270 sites created mostly by local governments). In 2021, the development of the application continued with, among other things, competitions for employees and an invitation to visit the Copper Basin. The application has been supplemented with new attractions, including a point located in the town of Sieroszowice, at the site of the discovery of the Polish Copper deposit.

Best practice

Investments in employees and their families

Investments in employees and their families – third edition of the Have an Impact Conference

In November 2021, for the third time, KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. organised the “Have an impact – the 3rd Lower Silesian CSR Conference – Investment in employees and their families – an inevitable necessity for employers”. The online discussion included topics related to the development of ESG regulation from the perspective of the government side, the capital market and investors, as well as large and small businesses, local government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

– When planning business strategies, it is worthwhile to create solutions to support employees, and also to make it easier to strike a balance between family and work life. I think it would be worthwhile to consider extending ESG to family-related policies. KGHM serves as an example of taking a comprehensive approach to business, which also carries out a wide variety of activities to benefit employees and their loved ones – mówiła Barbara Socha, Deputy Minister of Family and Social Policy and the Government’s Plenipotentiary on Demographic Policy. The Deputy Minister added that the importance of ESG as a part of business that is measured and rated by investors is growing.

According to the panellists, the pandemic accelerated technological transformation, which translates into social transformation. – This leads to changes on the labour market and new challenges: the risk of digital exclusion, needs to develop new skills and the need to alter one’s lifestyle in this time of demographic challenges. The pandemic also sped up evolution. The consequences of changes such as the approach to hybrid work, remote education of children and youth and restructuring processes most frequently affect employees – explained Zofia Dzik, the President of the Humanites Institute, the conference’s substantive partner.

More than 200 people attended the conference held by the Employers’ Organization of Polish Copper, KGHM and the Humanites Institute.

 

 

 

 

 

KGHM supports local municipalities among others in the preparation of their development strategies, among other topics, it supports their growth through payment of taxes, hiring residents of local communities and implements a number of Social Agreements to augment the living standard of residents. The Company’s representatives participate in meetings and sessions of City and Town Councils, and in events organised by local governments. Every year, mayors of municipalities, towns and cities participate in festivities organised to commemorate the Miner’s Day and the Metallurgy Worker’s Day. The Company sponsors events organized by municipalities; it provides support from the KGHM Polska Miedź Foundation’s budget to cover the costs of children’s summer and winter day camps, school field trips and outings to a swimming pool.

The local communities perceive KGHM not only as a major employer, offering stable employment and high wages, but also as an active promoter of social life. Through social initiatives and access to them, it also ensures a high standard of living for all residents of the Copper Basin.

In 2021, two conferences for local governments were held in cooperation with the Employers’ Organization of Polish Copper:

  • “Comprehensive waste management in the Copper Basin”, which discussed KGHM’s systematic investments in modern pro-ecological solutions and technologies and its adaptation to strict EU standards. This allowed KGHM to effectively protect the environment.
  • “Climate policy, economic and environmental aspects of using aggregates in the Copper Basin.” Extensive use of minerals accompanying copper or other metal ores was presented as an excellent example of Circular Economy, which reduces the negative impact on the environment, protecting natural resources (minerals) for aggregate production, reducing emissions from transportation, reducing the amount of waste disposed of in landfills, reclaiming land occupied by landfills. Additional positive factors are the social benefits, including: supporting the local labour market, reducing the volume of lorry traffic and therefore increasing road safety, as well as creating educational opportunities.

Considering the successful past cooperation between KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. and the local governments of the Copper Basin, activities promoting health, ecology and a healthy lifestyle for the region’s residents were continued. In 2021, the funding of PLN 3,200,000 was provided.

Supported activities included: the “Health is vital” social education campaign addressed to families living in the city; the “In the heart of Legnica” social education campaign addressed to children and youth, the promotion of physical, cultural and social activity through participation in campaigns and events, the planting of trees and shrubs, and medical tests, including nephrology, pulmonology and endocrinology. Additionally, local squares were developed to be used for recreation, integration, the strengthening of local bonds and traditions and leisure, and a series of training workshops were delivered, including chess, multi-generational dance meetings named “Meetings on the Copper” and interactive educational computer monitor sets were purchased for schools.

Considering the successful past cooperation between KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. and the local governments of the Copper Basin, in 2021 activities promoting health, ecology and a healthy lifestyle were carried out for the region’s inhabitants:

The amount of PLN 300,000 was donated to the Głogów Urban Municipality for the following activities: health clinics: opening a nephrology clinic, sessions in a salt cave for primary school children, promotion of healthy eating, sports activities for children and young people using municipal sports facilities, “Fit Resident of Głogów”, planting trees, shrubs.

The amount of PLN 300,000 was donated to the Legnica Urban Municipality for the following activities: the “Healthy Legnica” health programme, which aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles and at educating and increasing the availability of medical care for Legnica’s residents.

Głogów County

Supported activities: preventive examinations for lung, thyroid diseases, diagnostics of prostate cancer, USG breast exams, promotion of a healthy diet, sporting and cultural activities for children, youth, adults, and the elderly, provision of additional equipment for the hospital, schools, and volunteer fire units. Funds in the amount of PLN 870,000 were donated for these purposes (Head Office of Głogów County – PLN 410,000, Głogów Rural Municipality – PLN 90,000, Kotla Municipality – PLN 120,000, Pęcław Municipality – PLN 150,000 and Żukowice Municipality – PLN 100,000).

KGHM is involved in educational activities in the Copper Basin. The “Competent in the mining and metallurgical sector” programme continued in 2021. KGHM has assumed patronage over 9 vocational schools. Last year an interactive competition about KGHM was organised for students, with attractive prizes. This initiative is a further stage in the company’s commitment to caring for its staff at the secondary school level. In the 2020/2021 school year, more than 1,900 students participated in the “Competent in the sector” programme. The best players and school representatives received congratulatory diplomas and prizes from KGHM. A school’s score was calculated as the average points scored by a player from that school. This meant that what mattered was the quality of play, not the number of participants logged on. What mattered was what is key in pursuing a goal and achieving above-average results, namely perseverance, consistency, systematic learning and knowledge gained during the game. The schools whose pupils proved most engaged throughout the game were:

  • First place – Zespół Szkół Technicznych i Ogólnokształcących w Legnicy (Complex of Technical and High Schools in Legnica),
  • Second place – Zespół Szkół im. Narodów Zjednoczonej Europy w Polkowicach (United Nations School Complex in Polkowice),
  • Third place – Zespół Szkół Mechanicznych w Bolesławcu (Mechanical School Complex in Bolesławiec).

The project for patron school students was carried out under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Science.

CSR activities of the KGHM INTERNATIONAL LTD. GROUP

In 2021 the entities of the KGHM INTERNATIONAL LTD. Group, as in previous years, continued their activities supporting local communities. Support was not limited to financial issues, but also to the organisation of various initiatives. KGHM INTERNATIONAL LTD. operates on both continents of the Americas. The local support offered is based on the individual needs of the region. In addition to charitable activities, the presence of the company’s employees in many different social and cultural events is also visible. The focus is mainly on employees and their families, an example being the Family Day held annually at the Robinson Mine. This event is organised not only for employees’ families, but also for anyone interested in the operation of the mine. It is a great opportunity for integration among all employees.

The Robinson Mine is located in White Pine County. The nearest town is Ely and this is where most of the workers come from. The Group is one of the largest employers in Poland. The connection between the Robinson Mine and the local community is very strong, as evidenced by the high level of community activity. More than USD 90,000 was donated to charity in 2021. The year also saw a number of initiatives to protect health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools were supported with protective and personal hygiene equipment. Volunteers from the company took part in the vaccination campaign, oversaw the organisation and progress of the event, and looked after patients immediately after receiving the vaccine. A blood drive was organised at the mine site, with 59 employees taking part. The company has actively supported all kinds of projects encouraging children to read, promoting sports and recreation. Financial support was provided and sports equipment was purchased for schools in the county. Sponsored academic scholarships were provided for children of Robinson Mine employees. Sports teams were financially supported, and as a thank you they picked up litter along the road leading to the mine. During the summer months, Robinson Mine employees participated in an outreach programme to poorer school children in White Pine: personal hygiene products were collected, packaged and distributed to those in need. In turn, winter financial support was provided by White Pine County Social Services, which provided families in need with gifts of food, and clothing, and also provided financial assistance to cover some of the high heating bills during the winter. Support was also provided for various cultural events in the region, including the White Pine County Horse Races and the Fire and Ice Festival fireworks display.

The Franke Mine got involved in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting a school in the town of Diego de Almagro with disposable protective masks. In addition, a dialysis machine worth over USD 17,000 was purchased for the local hospital. Mine staff also gave lectures at the school on the archaeological heritage of the region.

The Carlota Mine supported the local community with USD 11,000. In February, mine workers delivered cookies to a nursing home in Globe. Volunteers from Carlota helped pack sandbags to protect homes from flooding after the extinguishing of the Pine Mountain The Carlota Mine supported the local community with USD 11,000. In February, mine workers delivered cookies to a nursing home in Globe. Volunteers from Carlota helped pack sandbags to protect homes from flooding after the extinguishing of the Pine Mountain. Fire. Company employees participated in a litter pick-up from mountain trails. A collection of plastic bottle tops was also organised for a sick boy, who thanks to the action gained access to free dialysis. Representatives of the Carlota Mine have donated a more than 100-year-old mining tool to the Bulion Plaza Museum in Miami, Arizona.

The Sudbury Basin Mines have also been active in community outreach. We joined the tree planting campaign: 500 plants were purchased and planted by willing employees in the “Kivi Park”. Representatives of the mine also participated in the National Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebrations. One academic scholarship under the Mineral Resources Industry Leadership Program was also sponsored. This program helps participants gain the skills and knowledge to do their jobs more effectively. In December 2021, donations were made to charities such as the Edgar Burton Food Drive and Elgin Street Mission. Company employees also served meals to the poor as part of their volunteering.

DMC Mining services also actively participates in social activities. Employees organised a fundraiser among themselves to support a food bank for the poorest. DMC Operations Department also supported the Sudbury baby food bank. Employees whose life situation has suddenly deteriorated due to unforeseen random events can also count on the employer’s support.

There is also a special Sponsorship & Donations Committee in KGHM INTERNATIONAL LTD., whose aim is to bring Polish history and culture to the Canadian community. This is crucial for mutual understanding in Canada’s multicultural community. The Committee cooperates with the Polish Consulate in Toronto. One of the events supported financially was a concert dedicated to the memory of John Paul II. A plaque honouring the Polish veterans of World War II who remained in Canada was also dedicated in Toronto.

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