2010
AMBATOVY SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
45
C4. Labour Practices and Decent Work
C4.3 Labour-Management Relations
Negotiations are underway for a collective bargaining
agreement between management and national employees. It
is expected that the agreement will be finalized by the end of
2011. Elected employee delegates represent the employees
in the negotiation of the collective bargaining agreement.
Employee Code of Conduct
To make sure we operate at the highest ethical standards,
Ambatovy has adopted a comprehensive code of conduct that
applies to the entire workforce. The code of conduct covers
ethical behaviour by Ambatovy employees, such as avoiding
conflicts of interest, corruption and our zero tolerance policy
toward sexual exploitation of any kind. It serves as an
educational tool and outlines the principles, values, standards
and rules of behaviour that guide operations. Ambatovy will
require that the code of conduct be acknowledged and signed
annually to ensure all employees and contractors understand
and adhere to key policies.
Strikes and Lockouts
In total, there were two industrial actions (strikes and/or
lockouts) of a week or longer during 2010. In the third quarter,
construction activities at the plant site were suspended
for 17 days in total. The disturbances primarily related to
post-construction employment concerns for people from the
Toamasina area. An agreement to resume work was reached
in September, following discussions involving Ambatovy,
worker delegates, community leaders and local politicians.
Demobilization and Redeployment
Ambatovy is transitioning from construction to operations
and the majority of workers recruited for construction will
see their contracts come to an end. This is typical of any
large-scale construction project and the workforce has
been aware of it for some time. As a responsible employer,
Ambatovy developed a demobilization program to assist
its Malagasy workforce through this transition. For those
employees whose short-term contracts have ended, but who
still have much to contribute to the organization, the program
assists redeployment to the Project. For those leaving the
Project, Ambatovy offers several services to assist in finding
alternative work:
3
Redeployment Centres (BRMOs) were established
in Toamasina and Moramanga to help demobilized
workers find new employment opportunities with other
organizations.
3
In collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Ambatovy
contributed to the renovation of government-run
employment offices, which assist local job seekers and
organizations with hiring needs.
3
The ATC was established in Toamasina in 2010,
offering agricultural training to demobilized employees
who would like to return to or start agricultural
production.
3
At the end of 2010, the AIDE program was announced.
This is a short-term financial support program
for employees in good standing who have been
demobilized. The program will be implemented in 2011.
Training Farmers at the ATC
A highlight of the demobilization program in 2010
was the Agricultural Training Centre (ATC), which
opened in June and specializes in agricultural training
and techniques. The ATC was set up in collaboration
with Madagascar’s Governance Project for Mineral
Resources funded by the World Bank. Located
in Toamasina, the centre offers training courses
in agriculture, livestock, accounting and business
administration. The centre has already trained over a
thousand people (40% women). After seeing soaring
numbers of registrations, the Project decided to expand
the program. By the end of 2010, plans were being
made for ATCs in Brickaville and Moramanga.
