Personnel
Number of personnel
In the consolidated companies of the Group there
were 19,719 persons employed on September 30,
1978, compared with 19,095 persons at the end of
the previous financial year.
The number of personnel in the Netherlands was
6,610, compared with 6,405 in the previous year.
We wish to express our great appreciation of the
efforts of our employees who, in often difficult cir
cumstances in the Netherlands and abroad, con
stantly devote their best endeavours to the com
prehensive tasks in our enterprise.
Social policy
It is gratifying to be able to place on record that,
apart from a few brief interruptions of work in some
of our affiliated enterprises abroad, a harmonious
working climate prevailed within our Group during
the year under review.
In the establishments in the Netherlands the Cen
tral Staff Council and the local Staff Councils have
proved themselves to be constructive consultative
bodies. In the past year a large number of matters
have been discussed in these Councils which di
rectly affect both the interests of the enterprise in
the Netherlands and the personal life of our em
ployees.
After extensive negotiations a contract for the year
1978 was concluded in April with the workers' or
ganizations involved in the Collective Labour
Agreement. After frequent deliberation an accord
was reached on an employment agreement. This
implies that we shall hold consultations on that
subject twice a year with the trade unions on the
basis of information about the development of em
ployment within our establishments in the Nether
lands.
Informative discussions were regularly held with
the committee of the Heineken Senior Staff As
sociation. This Association was also a party to dis
cussions with Staff Councils and workers' organi
zations.
Despite the prevailing unemployment and intensive
contacts with the Regional Employment Offices, it
remains difficult for us, too, in many establishments
to recruit Dutch personnel, both skilled and un
skilled. As a result of this we are still compelled to
call upon a considerable number of foreign wor
kers. Of the production employees who come un
der the Collective Labour Agreement, 17% are of
non-Dutch nationality.
Our terms of employment valid in the Netherlands
will be fully applicable to the personnel of the
Group wholesalers as from January 1, 1979.
In view of the transfer of a number of units in the
Netherlands, transfer arrangements were made for
the employees involved, in consultation with the
workers' organizations.
With regard to the proposed closure of the Maurits-
kade brewery in Amsterdam, a social plan is being
drawn up in this connection.
In France we reached agreement on a new col
lective labour agreement within the framework of
the government regulations.
In Italy extensive consultations led to good social
relationships, which has greatly benefited the in
dustrial relations within the enterprise.
In Greece the contacts with the associations looking
after the interests of the personnel in the breweries
in Athens and Thessalonika proceeded in a good
atmosphere. The sharp increase in sales meant that
the available capacity had to be utilized to the ut
most. In this connection intensive calls were made
on the co-operation of the personnel, who always
responded nobly.
In Indonesia, in accordance with the endeavours of
the trade unions, institutionalized consultation was
introduced between the management and the em
ployees of our enterprise in that country.
Absence owing to illness
Absence owing to illness continues to increase.
The measures which we have taken in the Nether
lands on the basis of the investigations held during
the previous financial year are not yet having the
desired effect.
In most of our foreign establishments the sickness
percentage is significantly lower.
Training
In October 1977 the new Heineken training centre
for non-technical functions was opened in Baarn.
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