Japan Tobacco International (JTI) Philippines received EY’s Global Equality Standard (GES) certificate, after achieving the highest assessment scores on equal opportunities.
The certificate was awarded to all three JTI entities in the Philippines – its nationwide market operations with its head office in Taguig City, alongside its global business services center also in Metro Manila and its manufacturing facility in Malvar, Batangas.
JTI was earlier awarded the #2 Top Employer in the Philippines by the global authority on recognizing excellence in People Practices, the Top Employers Institute.
“We are delighted to have received EY’s GES certification for equality, diversity and inclusion excellence in our Philippine operations, and to be the first in the country to receive such an accreditation. It was a meticulous and robust assessment process for JTI, and we are very proud to be recognized for the level of ambition and commitment we have shown to advance DEI on a truly national scale across our three entities,” said Ari Wisnubroto, people and culture director at JTI Philippines.
EY’s GES is one of the first worldwide DEI certifications and provides an in-depth diagnostic of all aspects of DEI, including measuring equal opportunities in the workplace.
“DEI is at the core of what we do at JTI. It is business critical, and we recognize it is important that workplaces be held accountable. The GES certification, therefore, does not mean that our work is done at JTI Philippines. It is crucial that our DEI policies and practices evolve and are audited on a regular basis to ensure that our programs are benchmarked and that we are meeting our responsibility to serve the needs of our 4,500+ employees across the country,” Wisnubroto said.
EY commended JTI Philippines for several of corporate initiatives, including an analysis that found the company to be fully compliant on equal opportunities, which is embedded in the culture of the organization and its flexible working measures, which, among other key benefits, give employees the option to work 50 percent of their time away from the office.
EY also recognized JTI’s progressive global family leave policy, enabling employees across the country holding eligible positions to benefit from 20 weeks fully paid leave when welcoming a child, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation or the way they become parents; its focus on career progression through the likes of mentorship programs; and recruiting for underrepresented groups and having a balanced assessment and interview process.
It also noted JTI’s DEI ‘Bright Start’ program that supports individuals from socially disadvantaged communities by giving them the opportunity to attain a college degree while simultaneously earning a salary and developing their careers at JTI; its ‘Drive Ahead’ program aimed at enrolling female employees in driving school who are interested in a career in the field so that they can acquire a professional driving license that is required for a field force role; and a market-leading approach to its wellbeing initiatives, including a strong focus on mental health.