Cēsu alus in the assessment of the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia has been recognised as the socially most responsible employer in Vidzeme, receiving an acknowledgement “For work contributing to the implementation of the successful management and social responsibility principles in the company and the development of the Vidzeme region.”

On 22 May in Smiltene, a meeting was held between the management of the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia (LDDK) and entrepreneurs of the Vidzeme region, followed by the awarding of the region’s best employer of the year. JSC Cēsu alus was awarded “Socially Most Responsible Employer”.

The best employer in the region was determined based on several criteria, including how an enterprise implements good management, presents corporate social responsibility through its activities, has active participation in local or national level entrepreneurs’ unions or employers’ organisations, thus strengthening social dialogue and facilitating better management in a certain area. It was also considered that a company does not have violations in the field of employment relations and labour safety, and that a company has no tax debt.

The above mentioned criteria were considered based on the data provided by the state controlling institutions (SRS, SLI) for each company, as well as an assessment provided by branch and regional entrepreneurs’ unions and employers’ organisations regarding participation of companies in the work of organised civil society, strengthening social dialogue, and facilitating better management in a certain branch or area.

The total assessment of companies was also based on the results of the Sustainability Index, which shows the willingness of a company to take care of the development of a sustainable business environment in Latvia.

Andrejs Bušenko, LDDK social dialogue coordinator in the Vidzeme regionstates that “Cēsu alus deserves the status of socially most responsible enterprise, because it takes care of safe and secure workplace for employees on a regular basis. The enterprise has been particularly praised by the work safety and security experts at LDDK, who have frequently visited the brewery in Cēsis. A positive aspect in the company is its long-term successful collective agreement with employees. The company is very open-minded towards society and readily joins various social activities. Another positive fact is that this year Cēsu alus has launched a campaign with the aim to support the development of song and dance culture in Latvia.”

Eva Sietiņsone-Zatlere, Chairman of the JSC Cēsu alus Board: “Employees are top of our company’s values, care for personnel motivation, stable and safe working environment is Cēsu alus priority. In 2012, we implemented a large-scale project involving all our personnel – we put into practice Cēsu alus employees’ master-classthrough the project of multiple seminars with the aim to expand employees’ knowledge about the company, and created an internal guide for the company’s culture Handbook of an Excellent Employee. The awareness of shared values and their embodiment within the professional performance of each employee strengthens both teamwork and overall company culture, which can be felt by loyal and positive employees’ attitude.”

JSC Cēsu alus is a reputation leader and one of the biggest taxpayers in the Vidzeme region. Previously, the enterprise was awarded “Socially Responsible Company” and “Cooperation Partner” from the Free Trade Union Federation of Latvia, and in 2012 was recognised by LDDK assessment as “The Best Employer in the Region”.