Actions range from financial donations to supplies such as sanitizing alcohol and personal protective masks for the health sector, in addition to volunteering by employees
Just over three months after the first warnings from Chinese authorities to the World Health Organization (WHO), the coronavirus has spread across the planet and has been classified as a pandemic, claiming thousands of victims. Along with the apprehension about an unknown disease, with its social and economic impacts of all kinds, the scenario created by the new virus has also given rise to a mobilization that has united citizens, entities and companies of different sizes, who have spared no effort in implementing actions. There are many examples and they are present in all market segments.
Philip Morris Brasil (PMB) is one of these companies. The company took measures to protect the health and safety of its employees, third parties and partners long before the first cases began to be reported in Brazil. One of the first measures was to set up a Contingency Committee, with representatives from various areas of the company, to monitor the situation on a daily basis and evaluate the necessary preventive measures.
The administrative areas were placed under a regime of home office. International travel had already been suspended in February. To protect the teams working on the production lines at the factory in Santa Cruz do Sul (RS), in compliance with the decrees of the health authorities, the company took a series of measures: the circulation of people in the industrial area was reduced to the minimum possible, with restrictions on third-party access; employees began to be monitored by temperature gauges, with the aim of further reducing the risk of contamination; and hygiene kits and a booklet with good practices were distributed to intensify hygiene care not only in the work environment, but also in the family.
Another measure taken was to restructure the factory's internal logistics, with separation of work groups, breaks/meals at alternating times, shift changes and provision of transportation that prioritizes social distancing. These precautions were added to the reinforcement of common practices, such as the mandatory use of personal protective equipment, PPE, mainly through increased distribution of masks.
Union of efforts
But the company went further and has been committed to actions to minimize the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on society. In Santa Cruz do Sul (RS), the city where its production unit is located, it carried out a financial contribution of R$500,000 to support the actions of the Municipal Government of Santa Cruz do Sul, including the implementation of a field hospital in the municipality, which has already been completed.
The company also adapted, in record time, its laboratory to produce and donate 1200 liters of sanitizing alcohol, delivered to the city's Health Department. There are plans to produce another batch of the product for other donations.
Through its subsidiary ProfiGen do Brasil, PMB lent the University of Santa Cruz do Sul (Unisc) one of the few pieces of equipment in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, with a large capacity for extracting and processing genetic material from the virus (RNA). The objective is to speed up genetic testing to diagnose the disease, with the technical assistance that the company's employees will offer to the University.
“In addition to the actions already taken, we are seeking new ways of collaborating, not only for the state of Rio Grande do Sul, which is very important for our operations, but also for the entire country. Our main concern at this time is people, whether they are part of the company or not. I have been telling my entire team: together we are stronger,” said Alejandro Okroglic, Operations Director at Philip Morris Brazil.
To the Government of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, through the secretariats of Governance and Strategic Management (SGGE), Health (SES) and Civil Defense, the company donated 30 thousand surgical masks, which will be used according to the criteria of the State authorities and which arrive at a time of shortage of equipment for health professionals.
In the State of Santa Catarina, the PMB resumed the tobacco purchase, which had been temporarily interrupted to contain contamination by Covid-19. The company wants, with this measure to preserve the sustainability of the region's producers. To this end, it follows all the rules established by the State's public health authorities, in order to guarantee, as a priority, the safety and health of the entire chain during the pandemic.
In the first weeks of April, PMB provided the City of São Paulo with 10 vehicles from its distribution fleet, with a driver and support team. The goal was to contribute over the course of a week by delivering 8,600 basic food baskets, provided by the municipality. “We used one of the greatest strengths of our business to deliver more than 100 tons of food and collaborate at this critical time,” says Rui Duarte, Corporate Affairs Manager at Phillip Morris Brazil.
Another measure was also implemented to benefit retailers across the country: the company extended payment deadlines, without interest or fines. In this way, it contributes to those points of sale that are not operating due to local restrictive measures and, for this reason, are unable to honor their commitments at this time.
Furthermore, internally, the company's employees are taking part in volunteer activities, such as donating blood, making homemade masks with materials donated by the company, and collecting food and hygiene kits, which are also being passed on to institutions that manage people in vulnerable situations. On another front, some employees who work directly at the factory are doing volunteer work to maintain equipment and reinforce buildings, in collaboration with the city governments of Santa Cruz do Sul and Sinimbu, both in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.
The company and its employees are all united in order to collaborate effectively in the fight against COVID-19. “There is a lot to be done. And we understand that it is by rolling up our sleeves that we can build a movement for solidarity change in society”, adds Alejandro. In total, the resources provided by the company amount to approximately R$1.4T 2 million to date.
