April 03, 2020
Yara to ensure income security for employees and contractors
“As a responsible employer and participant in society, we have an obligation to limit the damages this pandemic can cause in vulnerable communities. Yara therefore takes the responsibility to protect the lives and livelihoods of our workforce from sudden drops in pay as a result of the current situation,” says President & CEO Svein Tore Holsether.
Yara operates in more than 60 countries and governmental support and safety nets vary greatly. While some countries have well-established social security systems, this is not the case everywhere. To address the uncertainty this creates, Yara has decided to put in place concrete measures and introduce global guidelines for income security.
“As a responsible employer and participant in society, we have an obligation to limit the damages this pandemic can cause in vulnerable communities.”
The guidelines will secure payment of three months of salary during any required reduction in manning, sick leave and special leave due to the COVID-19 crisis for all employees. And it will also cover contractors that are working full-time in our daily operations and are essential in keeping our business running.1
Yara is a crucial part of the food value chain and strive to support governments all over the world. Yara’s operations are running without significant disruption, and we have no announced or planned layoffs. However, the situation is uncertain and could change quickly.
“It is in everyone’s interest to limit the negative long-term effects of the crisis, and the support offered in communities with limited safety nets will help ensure business continuity post-crisis, when the situation and operations are back to normal”, says Holsether.
---
1 The measures depend on local labor laws and regulations
