Date/Time
Date(s) - 27 October 2011
12:00 am
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Kuwait -October 27- 2011 — In an interview with Aljarida newspaper, two leaders from EQUATE Petrochemical Company said it is of the first national companies to apply most articles of the new private sector employment law, while also implementing a number of the law’s optional clauses that serve the interests of employees. Some remaining articles will be applied after receiving sufficient clarification from relevant authorities, they noted.
EQUATE HR Leader for Employee Relations & Services Yaqoub Al-Kandari said that the company’s main HR policies and strategies consider the critical role of employees in the success of any company, noting that EQUATE’s HR strategy is based on attracting highly qualified professional with focus on nationals, training and developing employees in accordance with best practices, as well as recognizing distinguished performance with proper remuneration.
Al-Kandari added that such basis contribute in forming a professional Disciplined & Efficient Teamwork environment, Proactive Innovation and Focused Responsiveness to all relevant stakeholders.
Competitiveness
Al-Kandari highlighted that EQUATE enjoys strong ties with all HR functions at Kuwait Petroleum Corporation & Subsidiaries (K-Companies) through joint benchmarks and exchanging expertise, noting that EQUATE is part of Kuwait’s private sector with its own unique blend of guidelines and procedures through its Board that has members from K-Companies, international shareholder and Kuwait’s emerging private sector
Al-Kandari explained that EQUATE is distinguished from K-Companies and other private sector bodies through its professional work environment that encourages teamwork and innovation, empowerment and world-class training, as employees have a relevant career map to reach the highest possible position, in addition to a personalized development plan for each employee
Salary & Benefits
Al-Kandari added that EQUATE has its own set of competitive salaries and benefits that are periodically benchmarked locally and regionally to maintain the company’s competitiveness within similar sectors, emphasizing that employment and holding leading posts at EQUATE prioritize qualified nationals, as well as well as Manpower and Government Restructuring Program (MGRP) law with its incentives for Kuwaiti employees.
Al-Kandari noted that EQUATE is one of Kuwait’s first companies to apply the new private sector employment law, adding that some optional parts were also implemented to serve employee interests, while a few articles are on their way to be applied due to being clarified by relevant authorities, such as nursery hours and how to establish it, as well as items relevant to persons with special needs who hold much significance to EQUATE at all time.
The Highest Training Budget
On his part, EQUATE HR Leader for Talent & Performance Management Mohammad Al-Sharhan said as EQUATE has the highest training and development budget when compared with others locally and regionally, such a matter truly embodies EQUATE’s support for its employees. The training, added Al-Sharhan includes development for current leaders and high-potential employees qualified to hold future leadership roles.
Al-Sharhan explained that EQUATE also has a university scholarship program in specific majors needed by the company for qualified employees who will hold a higher post after obtaining their degree, noting that sustaining EQUATE’s professional work environment serves all company functions and allows employees to properly manifest their competencies.
Regarding EQUATE’s plans to overcome the issue of shortage in qualified national manpower to establish and run petrochemical bodies, Al-Sharhan affirmed that EQUATE fosters the development of nationals in this sector in coordination with local educational institutes in terms of the company’s current and future workforce needs, as well as providing internships that involve field training, supporting senior projects relevant to the petrochemical industry, and a program with the Public Authority of Applied Education and Training (PAAET) to support students in majors that serve the company.
Internships & Field Training
Al-Sharhan explained that EQUATE provides all necessary financial and professional support to internship students receiving field trainings at its facilities. In addition, he said, EQUATE sponsors establishing labs and halls at Kuwaiti educational bodies in alignment with its strategy to develop students and ensure fruitful academia, not to mention launching two university scholarship programs in certain majors with one for EQUATE employees and the other for Kuwaiti high school graduates.
Al-Sharhan clarified that EQUATE trains its Kuwaiti employees at international plants to obtain global expertise, dispatches them to world-class training courses and conferences, supports them to obtain universally recognized certifications, as well as recruiting top-notch international experts to leverage their competencies to Kuwaiti employees within a set timeframe.
Exceptional Standards
Al-Sharhan noted that EQUATE is an academy for distinguished Kuwaiti leaders due to its focus on overall professional development of current and future leaders at all levels in cooperation with specialized international organizations.
Al-Sharhan explained that such developments is split into two parts, with the first dedicated to current leaders, while the second is aimed at future leaders in relevant fields according to the employee’s competencies, all of which are in line with EQUATE’s strategy for Kuwaiti who hold over 90% of its leadership posts.
Established in 1995, EQUATE is an international joint venture between Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC), The Dow Chemical Company (Dow), Boubyan Petrochemical Company (BPC) and Qurain Petrochemical Industries Company (QPIC). Commencing production in 1997, EQUATE is the single operator of a fully integrated world-scale manufacturing facility producing over 5 million tons annually of high-quality petrochemical products which are marketed throughout the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe
By: Khaled Al-Khaledi
Aljarida Newspaper – Kuwait
October 27, 2011
Page 16
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