Access to Health Care



 
 
Our objectives

Heineken believes it is important that our employees are in good health and safe when performing their duties. We therefore endeavour to prevent work-related illnesses and injuries, such as damage to the back caused by wrongly lifting loads or hearing impairment caused by protracted exposure to noise. We also aim to safeguard access to adequate basic health care. The consequence is that in countries where the government or private parties do not provide health care of a certain basic quality, we see a role in providing it ourselves to our employees and their direct dependents. Finally, it means that we want to ensure a safe working environment, for all those we employ either directly or indirectly, for example, the Beer Promoters (BPs).

Our strategy

Within Group Human Resources, our Health Affairs department initiates and coordinates the activities we undertake in the area of occupational health and safety, particularly in markets where we provide basic health care. To this end we operate a network of clinics with our own doctors and nurses that provide first-line medical aid in sub-Saharan Africa. We have the facilities and know-how to diagnose and treat infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. Our efforts in this area are also aimed at prevention of these diseases through simple measures such as giving our employees and their direct dependents adequate information and making available preventive items such as impregnated bednets against mosquitoes or condoms to protect against sexually transmitted diseases.

The promotion and sales of our brands in bars and restaurants by agency employed professional BPs is a common and accepted practice in several countries. Heineken is aware of the potential issues related to this way of selling and promoting beer in these countries, such as Cambodia. Heineken acknowledges its responsibility and strives for continuous improvement of the health and safety of BPs. Heineken issues guidelines in its breweries and for its sales organisations. These cover human resources issues, organisation of work and health and safety training, information and education.