CSR Policy - East-West Seed

East-West Seed (EWS) believes that social responsibility is the driving force for its mission of providing innovative products and services to help farmers increase their income and promote the growth of the vegetable farming industry. The company’s history reflects its strong sense of commitment to human, social, economic, and technological development, as expressed by its management teams and employees in its various countries of operations. They have initiated and conducted activities to develop employees, support government programs, support farmers’ cooperatives, collaborate with educational institutions and help countryside communities pursue their development goals. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is integrated in the mainstream of our business processes, and expressed in our Core Values of Serving Farmers, Learning & Innovation, and Passionate Teams.

This policy on CSR aims to provide a framework to outline fundamental EWS commitments and encourage creativity in how these CSR efforts are pursued and implemented. Its programs will include on going stakeholder dialogue and annual reporting on the progress that we are making, realizing that CSR is a process of building capabilities to further improve our triple bottom-line of people, planet, and profits.

Socially-Beneficial Goods and Services

EWS shall strive to earn the confidence of their client-farmers, dealers, partners, and other stakeholders, by developing and providing socially beneficial products and services, in a safe and responsible manner. It shall :

  • develop and provide socially beneficial products and services to meet the needs of farmers, customers, and consumers ;

  • ensure the safety and quality of its products and services ;

  • provide farmers, customers, and consumers with appropriate and useful information about its products and services ;

  • communicate with farmers and customers in good faith.

Sound Trade Practices

EWS shall promote fair and sound trade, ensuring that its relationship and contacts with its business partners and government agencies are of a sound and proper nature. It shall

  • make thorough efforts to comply with fair and sound trade practices ;

  • establish sound procurement policies ;

  • respect the intellectual property rights ;

  • develop more transparent relationship with government agencies and support efforts for promoting the growth of the tropical vegetable industry.

Communication with Members of Society

EWS shall engage in communication not only with its shareholders, business partners and employees, but also members of society at large, including active, appropriate and fair disclosure of corporate information. It shall :

  • disclose relevant information to its stakeholders in an appropriate and timely manner ;

  • promote two-way communication with society through public relations and community-relations activities.

Respect for Diversity and Equal Employment Opportunity

EWS shall strive to respect diversity, individually and differences of its employees. It shall:

  • provide equal opportunity employment for all employees and applicants, regardless of race, creed, color, sex, religion, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, pregnancy, marital status or sexual orientation. This policy relates to all employment decisions, including recruitment , hiring , training , promotion, compensation , benefits , termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment ;

  • respect the individuality of its employees , and support their efforts to develop skills and attain their aspirations.

Non-Complicity in Forced Labor or Child Labor

EWS will only do business with partners, suppliers or contractors who deliver quality materials and services, who safeguard the rights and welfare of its workers by providing wages and benefits that comply with government laws and regulations, and who do not engage in forced labor and the hiring of minors. In addition, EWS will encourage its suppliers/contractors to initiate and implement programs on security, health, safety, environment, and social responsibility. This will be implemented by all EWS managers who purchase goods or services and will be regularly reviewed by persons independent of these managers.

Employee Engagement in a Responsible Setting

EWS shall offer all its associates the opportunity to contribute to its mission of improving the earnings of vegetable farmers and promoting the vegetable farming industry, by providing innovative products. In return for its employee’ efforts and contribution, EWS shall provide every employee with:

  • a secure and respectful work environment ;

  • meaningful and rewarding work ;

  • a competitive total compensation package including base pay, variable pay and benefits ;

  • a clear understanding of what is expected of each employee in his/her respective role ;

  • open information regarding advancement opportunity ;

  • opportunities to learn, grow, and achieve ;

  • honest, constructive feedback about performance; and

  • recognition for excellent work.

It is the responsibility of all EWS’s managers and leaders to fulfill this commitment to all employees they supervise or interact with.

Remuneration Policies/Minimum Wages

EWS’s compensation philosophy is guided by its pursuit of market leadership in tropical vegetable seeds, its aspiration to provide the highest benefit to our farmer-clients, employees and stakeholders, and its initiatives for a strong brand, advanced Research and Development, efficient operations and a highly competent staff.

EWS’s compensation philosophy aims to :

  • compete for qualified staff in an evolving business environment ;

  • provide capable employees with a competitive level of compensation, commensurate to their contribution to EWS’s mission, vision, and strategy execution ;

  • pay employees equitably and fairly within our defined job markets, complying with minimum wage legislation in its countries of operation ;

  • be financially responsible for the company’s continued growth.

The company shall develop and maintain its Salary Structures, to provide every employee a competitive level of compensation that considers internal equity and minimum wage regulations. Human Resources Management (HR) shall ensure that the salary administration program provides a systematic approach based on job documentation and evaluation, and considers the prevailing job market conditions to establish salary ranges that reflect the relative value of each position. It is the responsibility of EWS’s leaders to administer salaries in accordance with established policies and procedures in a fair and equitable manner. HR shall maintain the Salary Administration Program, in partnership with each country’s Management Team.

Personal Development , Training , and Capacity Building

EWS shall create and maintain the organizational climate to encourage internal talent development. Senior management is primarily responsible for balancing organizational quality with achieving short-term growth targets. This means placing equal importance on quality, creativity, learning, communication, and collaboration, on the same level as the achievement of the required quantity of output and timelines.It is an essential role for all EWS leaders to develop talent, not only for their departments’ future requirements but also for the whole EWS Group. EWS leaders shall be accountable for developing talent in their respective areas, and this shall be reflected in their performance expectations and merit reviews.They are responsible for attracting, engaging, developing and retaining EWS’ knowledge workers of today and tomorrow. In addition to this, they will also serve as coaches, teachers, and in general, be effective contributors to developing talents for the EWS Group’s future requirements. They will be provided with the needed training to be capable of communicating, encouraging and reinforcing the needed EWS culture and values for strategic success.

EWS leaders shall conduct long-term manpower planning and development with a mid-term horizon, identifying the critical positions that will impact its future success or failure. This will cover positions that require 3 to 5 years to adequately prepare a person with potential to be fully competent. The long-term planning and development can be further refined through annual reviews, taking current developments into consideration.

Workplace Health and Safety

EWS is committed to preventing the accidental loss of any of its resources, including employees and physical assets. In fulfilling this commitment to protect both people and property, management will provide and maintain a safe and healthy work environment, in accordance with industry standards and in compliance with legislative requirements, and will strive to eliminate any foreseeable hazards which may result in property damage, accidents, or personal injury/illness.

We recognize that the responsibility for health and safety are shared. All employees will be equally responsible for minimizing accidents within our facilities and on our work sites. Safe work practices and job procedures will be clearly defined in the company’s Health and Safety Manual for all employees to follow.

Accidental loss can be controlled through good management in combination with active employee involvement. Safety is the direct responsibility of all managers, supervisors, employees, and contractors. All management activities will comply with company safety requirements as they relate to planning ,operation, and maintenance of facilities and equipment. All employees will perform their jobs properly in accordance with established procedures and safe work practices.

Positive Involvement in Environmental Issues

EWS recognizes that a positive involvement in environmental issues is a priority for all humanity and is an essential part of its existence as an organization, and shall approach these issues more proactively. It shall :

  • strive to contribute to the resolution of global warming and building a recycling-based society;

  • make efforts to utilize energy-saving and environment conservation technology;

  • develop innovative technologies, products, services, and business models that contribute to the resolution of environmental issues;

  • promote measures and activities aimed at the conservation of nature, including the protection of biological diversity;

  • publicize its policy and achievements in environmental issues.

Activities for Social Benefit

EWS, in its identity as a “good corporate citizen”, shall actively engage in philanthropic activities and other activities of social benefit. It shall:

  • contribute to the resolution of targeted social issues, through the investment of its resources and expertise;

  • cooperate with non-profit and non-governmental organizations, members of local communities, educational institutions, government agencies, and other partners;

  • consider taking part in collaborative work initiated by industrial associations and the business community;

  • support its employee’ efforts to contribute to volunteer activities.

Governance for CSR

The Board of Management assumes the responsibility for implementing these policies on CSR on a group- wide basis, for taking all necessary action in order to raise awareness and inform member companies and business partners of their responsibility. EWS Country Managers and Group Functional Managers will heed the voice of their stakeholders, both internally and externally, and promote the development and implementation of systems that will contribute to the achievement of business ethics.

  • Senior Management, as described above, shall exert leadership in establishing clear management philosophies and policies, and a clear code of conduct for doing business, as well as enforcing management directions thoroughly in the EWS Group.

  • Senior Management shall make public the basic business principles on its management philosophies, policies, and code of conduct. They shall also disclose the methods for achieving their goals.

  • Country Managers shall promote an effective company-wide system for implementing its basic business principles.

  • Senior Management shall designate independent counseling officers, in charge of business ethics issues that are independent from line management.

  • Country Managers shall strive to provide and enhance education and training in business ethics.

  • Country Managers shall review and evaluate adherence to the EWS Group’s code of business ethics.

Internal Management System for CSR

Senior Management shall investigate incidents contrary to these EWS policies on CSR. It shall investigate the causes for the incident, develop reforms to prevent recurrence and make information publicly available regarding their intended actions for reform.

  • Senior Management shall establish an internal management system to prevent misconduct from occurring.

  • Country Managers, in case any misconduct occurs, shall promptly clarify the facts relating to the incidence, investigate the causes, formulate responsible and appropriate policies and take proper actions to address the immediate situation, correct the underlying causes and prevent recurrence.

  • Senior Management shall take immediate action to explain to the public facts, policies to cope with the issue and measures to prevent the recurrence of the incident.