Basic HTML Version
Workplace Excellence
Big Challenge:
Reaching a Consensus
Collective agreement
In FY12, we began negotiations with the Union of Beverage
Industry Workers (UBIW) on the 14th Collective Agreement
(CA). The UBIW represents 104 employees from six
departments. Negotiations became protracted due to the
method of calculation for increments and adjustments.
The UBIW sought a one-time adjustment for three years
whereas the Management pursued an annual adjustment
and increment based on the employee’s position and salary.
The Management was willing to discuss the quantum of
increments and adjustments, but the Union’s issue was not
with the quantum, but rather the method of payment over
the three years. The CA reached a deadlock and the matter
was referred to court. During this time, the Management
and Union committee continued to have regular meetings in
the hopes of reaching an amicable settlement. The CA was
finally settled out of court in June 2013.
The Beverage Industry Executive Staff Union (BIEU) was
formally recognised in 2009. The BIEU membership
comprises of 41 supervisory level employees in the Supply
Chain department. All articles in their CA have been
resolved. The negotiated terms with the BIEU is different
from the traditional agreement as members will be entitled
to an annual increment and salary adjustment depending
on their salary range.
Big Win: Better Benefits, Better Performance
Benefits review
We strive to offer the best benefits in the marketplace for our employees. Our Benefits Enhancement Strategy focuses on
creating new signature benefits unique to GAB while enhancing competitive benefits to stay ahead in the industry. In FY12,
following an independent market benchmark exercise and recommendations to the Benefits Review Committee, six GAB
signature benefits and eight competitive benefits were upgraded to achieve this aim. We have completed the enhancement of
21% of our benefits and the rest of the enhancements will be gradually introduced over the next two years.
Safety Improvements
Accident free days
All accidents involving our employees are recorded.
Due to the nature of our business, we also record accidents
involving contractors and consultants who are working on
the production floor.
We managed to maintain 375 accident free days up to May
2013. Over the past financial year, we also managed to
reduce the time lost as a consequence of an accident from
1.99 per 100 FTE to zero. Apart from that, our accident
severity rate also improved from 101.93 per 100 FTE to zero.
We record lost time and accident severity rates only for full-
time employees.
Infrastructure safety
In the past, we only upgraded infrastructure based on
capacity or age. However, in the recent few years, safety has
become a key consideration when infrastructure decisions
are made. As such, we upgraded and replaced two 20-year-
old machines on the bottling line in FY11, as they were no
longer considered safe by today’s standards.
Worksite safety
Our focus on safety extends to the entire site of the GAB
Sungei Way Brewery. Over the past financial year, in order to
elevate safety standards and awareness, several measures
were taken. Firstly, we increased the number of signage at
our guardhouse so that our visitors have greater clarity on
the safety requirements during their visit at our brewery.
Secondly, we integrated registrations and safety validation
as part of all work orders. Contractors can now only
commence work following a Job Safety Analysis involving
pre-work safety meetings, assessments of engineering
and complexity of work to be carried out, and the type of
personal protection equipment needed for the work to be
undertaken safely.
Thirdly, we improved visibility on safety measures by
increasing the number of signages in the brewery, including
mounting signboards at essential areas and fixing safety
stickers on machines as reminders for employees to be
aware of their actions and surroundings.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
5 Years Service Award introduced
Mileage claim standardisation
Club membership subsidy for monthly subscription fee
introduced for employees at Senior Executive job category
EPF employer contribution increased to 17%
FOR UNIONISED EMPLOYEES
Beverage Industry Executive Staff Union (BIEU) shift
allowance increased
Union of Beverage Industry Workers (UBIW) outpatient
coverage for dependents introduced
Education subsidy upgraded to 100% for UBIW
UBIW housing allowance revised
COMPETITIVE
BENEFITS **
1
2
3
4
5
6
Hospitalisation room and board
subsidies increased
Maternity leave increased to 90 days
Health screening coverage for all
employees
Optical benefits upgraded in value ***
Funeral expenses extended to
Management employees
Car allowance upgraded for employees
at Senior Executive job category
SIGNATURE
BENEFITS *
NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS PER 100
FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
1.98
0
1.91
1.99
0
Number of Accidents per 100 FTE
AVE
200
28
S
NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS PER 100
FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
1.98
0
1.91
1.99
0
Number of Accidents per 100 FTE
AVERAGE LOST DAYS PER ACCIDENT
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
28
0
4.52
101.93
0
Severity rate
* Signature benefits - Benefits that are above industry practices
** Competitive benefits - Benefits that are on par with industry best practices
***Only applicable to Management level employees
WORKPLACE EXCELLENCE :
MAKING EMPLOYEE INVESTMENT A PRIORITY
27
26