Occupational Health and Safety

We are committed to ensuring our employees’ health and safety. Providing employees with a safe work environment is one of our priorities. We value our employees in a way that makes life better for every member of the organization. Moreover, ensuring the health and safety of our employees reduces costs arising from lost-time injuries and medical leaves. 

We consistently provide safety training to plantation and cannery employees and enforce the use of personal protective equipment required in performing their assigned duties and responsibilities.

DMPI work committees identify potential safety risks and hazards, and devise action plans to mitigate or avoid its occurrence. Safety programs are implemented and process improvements are made to ensure workplace health and safety.

1. The Company values the safety of every member of the organization, work committees identify potential safety risks and devise action plans to mitigate or avoid them. Safety programs are implemented, and process improvements are likewise made.

2. DMPI’s total incidence rate (or the number of cases of occupational injuries with workdays lost) is lower than that of the Philippine Statistics Authority (2015) total incidence rate data of 4.25 for the manufacturing sector, in compliance with Article 168 of the Philippine Labor Code and further strengthened by Republic Act No. 11058 known as “An Act of Strengthening the Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standards” to ensure a safe and healthy work environment for employees.

3. The Company’s facilities have emergency response teams and plans in case of crisis. They conduct regular Emergency Preparedness Drills to prepare all employees for emergencies and natural disasters. 

Human Rights and Labor Standards

“Satisfied employees mean satisfied customers, which leads to profitability.”

Anne M. Mulcahy, Chairman and CEO

The Company has a Code of Conduct for employees and suppliers that strengthens our commitment to fundamental human rights and adherence to labor standards. DMPI is a member of the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange to ensure compliance in the supply chain.

DMPI performs periodic audits of contract manufacturers and certain direct suppliers. Some independent and unannounced audits are used to address quality assurance and compliance issues. Labor-Management Cooperation (LMC) councils meet regularly to discuss and decide on issues affecting employees, their families, the Company and the communities where we operate.

Executive Office, Strategic Planning, Finance and HR Teams

1. As of April 30, 2021, 43% of the Company’s management and one of the seven members of the Board of Directors is a woman.
   
   
2. The Company has a Human Rights policy that is in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the International Bill of Human Rights and the International Labor Organization Core Convention on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
   
   
3. The Company partners with local third party service providers which go through the DOLE’s accreditation and audit procedures. Moreover, DMPI conducts regular audits of its service providers to ensure that they provide the mandatory regional minimum wage and mandated government contributions.
   
   
4. DMPI does not allow nor tolerate child labor and forced labor.
   
   
5. The Company respects the right of employees to Freedom of Association. Farm and factory workers have labor unions. The Company has collective bargaining agreements with the labor unions in the Philippines which stipulate wage increases and enhancements in benefits for farm and factory workers. 
   
   
6. The Company has established labor management councils (LMCs) that prepare the groundwork for efficient and swift negotiations between the employees’ unions and the Company. DMPI has not experienced a labor strike in the past 50 years, a testament to the Company’s good relations with its workforce.
   
   
7. These highly engaged LMCs in the plantation, Bugo Processing and Production Facility and Cabuyao PET Plant are committed to creating and sustaining safe and secure work environment, employee development, conflict management programs, positive work environment, conducive work life balance, productivity improvement, and social responsibility.

Fair Wages and Benefits

Del Monte complements government-mandated privileges for all full-time employees and qualified dependents with a broad range of free medical and dental services, a comprehensive retirement package and voluntary plans for providential and insurance benefits.

Memorandums of agreement with the labor unions stipulate wage increases and enhancements in benefits for farm and factory workers from year to .

1. The Company pays its permanent workers above the minimum of the regional wage boards and average industry rates and enters into a contract of employment with each of its workers setting out the salary structure and benefits. DMPI’s benefits given to its employees exceed the minimum standards set by the Department of Labor and Employment (“DOLE”).
   
   
2. The Company partners with local third party service providers which go through the DOLE’s accreditation and audit procedures. Moreover, DMPI conducts regular audits of its service providers to ensure that they provide the mandatory regional minimum wage and mandated government contributions.
   
   
3. DMPI audits its toll manufacturers regularly for compliance with all labor laws and regulations governing the workplace, including Occupational Safety and Health, Wages and Benefits, and Human Rights practices.

Employee Engagement

“When people go to work, they shouldn’t have to leave their hearts at home.”

Betty Bender, Author

Building a culture of engagement is a continuing journey. It requires commitment from everyone in the organization. The Company involves employees in various activities that promote a healthy work-life integration. The Group’s commitment to engagement is a journey worth taking. It is one way we nourish our employees, enrich lives, every day.

Book donation by S&W Employees

1. DMPI has nurtured generations of employees from the same family, a testimony to its care for its people.

Well-being and Work-life Integration

Del Monte helps employees integrate their work with their personal lives. Providing employees programs that help balance their work and family life will assist the Company and employees in fulfilling their goals both inside and outside work.

The Company launched several programs to improve employees’ work-life integration such as sports and family events, movie nights, educational talks and symposiums, pre-retirement seminars and trainings on health and safety.

• The Company promotes work-life integration to ensure the employees’ well-being, mental health and productivity. The Company strives to create a welcoming workplace to maintain a healthy work-life balance and support wellness programs to enhance the employees’ well-being.

Talent Management

“We choose to be excellent in everything we do.” This is DMPI’s commitment, embedded in our CHOICE Values, in building our employees’ competencies to better equip them for the future.

Del Monte’s “Roadmap to Global Competitiveness” in the Philippines starts with building on the capabilities of each employee on the ground with the Centre of Excellence on Talent Management. We have developed a competency framework for key leaders at the plantation, cannery and marketing that will guide their teams towards achieving the Company’s strategic roadmap. The framework pinpoints the specific technical and operational skill set each team member must develop to deliver high performance.   

• The Company nurtures its employees through training by building on the capabilities of each employee in line with one of its core values – Championing Together. DMPI developed a competency framework for key leaders that guide their teams towards achieving the Company’s strategic roadmap.