Press release 02/12/2010 / Eric Dumonpierre
Our CEO, Eric Dumonpiere, held a press conference a few days ago in Mabhuti. Some NGOS, which were not present at the conference, have launched bad and false accusations about our commitment there. They have tried to turn aside the meanings of Eric Dumonpierre words. As he said, we are sorry because of the work rate increased that our employees faced a few weeks ago. If Health versus Profit think that we should not have apologized, we do not share their opinion. But we did not apologized because we are guilty of anything wrong. We won’t apologize because our firm works well and create work in a country like Mabhuti. We are proud to help the country to get developped and to give work, with good infrastructures and better paid, to the Mabhutians.
Regarding the accusations of the same NGO against the Berden Academy, we invite them to go to Mabhuti and to discover by themselves the work we have done. The new buildings of the Berden Academy will open in less than one week and we are very happy with it. The Berden Academy is the opportunity for children to get a good education with some independant and high-qualified teachers. As we know, because of our deep interest in Mabhuti, the schools there are mostly private and a lot of children cannot go to school because of the fees. The Berden Academy is free and is very well-equiped in furniture and all the tools necessary to learn. The aim of the Berden Academy is not to educate children in order to make them work in the Laboratories Berden but to help them to improve their standard of lives. If they want to work with us, we proudly say that we hope that in a few years, Mabhutians will manage the Laboratories Berden factories.
Anticap, which is an obscure and unknown association, says that we are taking advantage of the fact that the European medias cannot verify our work in Mabhuti. I think they under-estimate the work of the reporters ! Many of them do not hesitate to fly for their investigations ! Moreover, we let them know that a lot of foreign reporters attended the press conference held by our CEO.
If Mabhuti helps us thanks to a lower tax on the companies, we are proud to say that through the deep and sincer commitment of Eric Dumonpierre, we have done a very good work there and that we will not stop because of some NGOs that don’t even go on the fiel to check their allegations. I would like to recall that NGOS are invited and more than welcome if they want to participate. Come and see the inauguration of the Berden Academy, we ensure you that you will be convinced !
jeudi 2 décembre 2010
mercredi 1 décembre 2010
Right hand man of Eric Dumonpierre, Communication DIrector does declarations
mardi 30 novembre 2010
lundi 29 novembre 2010
A reaction against unfair accusation
Recently, some people have made serious accusations against the Laboratoires Berden and my way of running the company. A NGO called Health versus Profit has claimed that fifteen year old girls have been working for us in our new factories in Mabhuti and taht our employees have been working about 60 hours a week. I think it is necessary to clarify the situation as so many people have put their faith in the Laboratoires Berden.
First of all, I can ensure you that if fifteen yearl old girls work for us, their status is very special and that we take care that they don’t work more than 15hours a week for us. The rest of the time they go to school thanks to the Berden Academy taht delivers a good education and help them to get more independant in the future. Their work allow them to help their families that are often in a very difficult situtation as Mabhuti is one of the poorest countries in the world. My deep belief is that by moving our factories in Mabhuti, we have a strong role to play in the development of the country. If satisfying our client in Occident is important, helping our employees in Mabhuti matters as well.
Regarding the accusation of a sixty hours work for certain employees, we confess that we have been in a rush lately and that our employees have had to work more than usually but sixty hours a week is certainly not true. We have asked our employees to work extra hours but it was not mandatory but based on a voluntary process and of course, the extra hours have been paid more.
Moreover, I am happy to inform you that thanks to the succes of our products, we have been able to hire 1 000 new employees. It means that more people are going o see their wa of living increasing as average wages in the Laboratoires Berden are higher than in any other firms in Mabhuti.
Once again, I am sincerely disappointed by these accusations whereas I’ve tried all over my life to help my fellow being.
First of all, I can ensure you that if fifteen yearl old girls work for us, their status is very special and that we take care that they don’t work more than 15hours a week for us. The rest of the time they go to school thanks to the Berden Academy taht delivers a good education and help them to get more independant in the future. Their work allow them to help their families that are often in a very difficult situtation as Mabhuti is one of the poorest countries in the world. My deep belief is that by moving our factories in Mabhuti, we have a strong role to play in the development of the country. If satisfying our client in Occident is important, helping our employees in Mabhuti matters as well.
Regarding the accusation of a sixty hours work for certain employees, we confess that we have been in a rush lately and that our employees have had to work more than usually but sixty hours a week is certainly not true. We have asked our employees to work extra hours but it was not mandatory but based on a voluntary process and of course, the extra hours have been paid more.
Moreover, I am happy to inform you that thanks to the succes of our products, we have been able to hire 1 000 new employees. It means that more people are going o see their wa of living increasing as average wages in the Laboratoires Berden are higher than in any other firms in Mabhuti.
Once again, I am sincerely disappointed by these accusations whereas I’ve tried all over my life to help my fellow being.
CSR PRIZE
As you may know, I’ve just received the famous CSR prize given by Corporate and Environment Magazine. It’s a great pleasure and with sincer feelings that I have learnt my nomination to that prize. It is always a great joy to see that my job, and more widely, the job of all those who participate to my company, has been recognized. Our commitment to Mabhuti and to the Berden Academy is very important to us ans knowing that people outside the firm share our point of view is one of the highest pleasures.
I hope that thanks to this prize, some people will discover our firm or rediscover it and help us to create a new kind of business or to help us developping the one we are in charge of.
This prize rewards many years of work and gives us hope for the next years. This prize means as well that making business as people used to do it, that is to say with no regards towards the employees or to the local people we work with, is no longer possible.
A company is no longer only about making money but also about helping people, sharing ourl ives with our employees and help all of them to succeed in their lives. Companies have definitely a role to play in the society.
So once again, thank you so much for this reward that pushes me to my best and to keep going.
I hope that thanks to this prize, some people will discover our firm or rediscover it and help us to create a new kind of business or to help us developping the one we are in charge of.
This prize rewards many years of work and gives us hope for the next years. This prize means as well that making business as people used to do it, that is to say with no regards towards the employees or to the local people we work with, is no longer possible.
A company is no longer only about making money but also about helping people, sharing ourl ives with our employees and help all of them to succeed in their lives. Companies have definitely a role to play in the society.
So once again, thank you so much for this reward that pushes me to my best and to keep going.
vendredi 26 novembre 2010
jeudi 25 novembre 2010
Gremleen berden lab
mercredi 24 novembre 2010
PRESS CONFERENCE: BERDEN LABORATORIES CEO ERIC DUMONPIERRE ADDRESSES RECENT NGO ATTACKS
PRESS CONFERENCE: BERDEN LABORATORIES CEO ERIC DUMONPIERRE ADDRESSES RECENT NGO ATTACKS
24/11/2010 à 11h46 - mis à jour le 24/11/2010 à 11h52 | 7 vues | 0 réactions
BUSINESS
TRANSCRIPT: BERDEN LABORATORIES CEO ERIC DUMONPIERRE ADDRESSES RECENT NGO ATTACKS
November 23, 2010
Eric Dumonpierre held an evening press conference Monday, with the Laboratoires Berden crisis as the main topic. Before taking questions, he gave a brief speech. Here is a transcript of the speech and news conference:
Eric Dumonpierre: Good evening, everybody. Please be seated.
Before I take your questions tonight, I'd like to speak briefly about the state of our business and why I believe we need to put a recovery plan in motion as soon as possible.
Laboratoires Berden has built a large part of its success and international reputation on its human and social policy. A pacesetter in training and profit-sharing, Laboratoires Berden was also one of the first companies to sign international agreements with union organizations.
Today, the Laboratoires are regularly ranked among the best local employers. And in a fast-moving business context, Laboratoires Berden continues to reinvent itself to meet new challenges.
For over thirty years, relationship management and social involvement at Laboratoires Berden has been based on the conviction that there can be no sustainable business development without human development. The two go hand in hand, even as conditions change - for clearly, expectations today are not the same as in the past, with new challenges appearing all the time. This involvement has been shown at several occasions : we have recently been awarded by the AFSUD of the Diversity and Mixity Labels; we have also created with Professor Humus a not-for-profit organization : the Gremleen Berden Lab which aims at reducing poverty by bringing health through innovative medicine to children using a unique community-based business model.
However, in order to improve the effectiveness and productivity of our operations and ensure the long term sustainability of Laboratoires Berden, the company has had to undertake restructuring programs. It might also have to do so in the future. That is how business goes. Laboratoires Berden has strong social and societal commitments but it is a for-profit organization, and as such, is entitled to remain efficient while under the continuous stress of competition.
We are very conscious of the effect restructuring has on our employees and if options exist where we can achieve our financial goals and still preserve jobs we will do everything we can to do so. We aim to treat our employees with dignity and respect and offer a wide range of support for all affected employees. This includes a competitive severance package and outplacement support such as assistance in finding alternative employment, career counseling and retraining.
It has been the toughest decision I had to make in my life but we had to close our site of Bectot. This was a question of life and death for the Laboratoires Berden. We have imagined hundreds of other scenarios but only one was sustainable: localize our production of Mutorex in the City of Roukarta in Mabhouti. My only mistake might have been, because the difficulty of the decision, to have taken it too late. As a consequence, Bernard Le Montron has inherited from the quasi-impossible task to restart the production in a few weeks.
Bernard Le Montron has been with us for 25 years and who has always shown a complete alignment with our values and our strong commitment for a sustainable development.
We must say, he has been very successful in his mission with regard to production. If Laboratoires Berden still exists, it is highly to the promptness and high effectiveness of M. Le Montron. Furthermore, despite the time constraints and production issues, M. Le Montron has also been very active on the social side of the project. Right from the beginning, he has insisted on building a program aiming at sending underprivileged Mabhuti children to school, while offering them a job at Laboratoires Berden a few hours a day. The children of the Berden Academy will be able to acquire fundamental knowledge to build their future while helping their family to survive.
However, the social situation he inherited was worse than the one we imagined. Previous owners of the plant had much lower standards than Laboratoires Berden's. We recognize that we have not yet reached the objectives we had set for ourselves in Mabhuti. The recent declaration of a Laboratoires Berden's employee illustrates this fact, and we do not deny that we still have some work to do. But let this supplementary testimony be taken as proof that our social and societal values are shared among all of our employees. It gives me pride for my employees and hence, it gives me further motivation to accelerate our program.
We have already asked the NGO "United for a Sustainable South” to help us on this project and to work hand in hand with us. I will fly over to Mabhuti with our HR SVP Ye-Chui Khan, within the very next days in order visit the plant. I will reaffirm my full confidence in all of our employees and in our COO Bernard Le Montron; I will evaluate by myself the progress which have been made and the progress still to be made. I am confident that we will collectively meet this new social challenge. We will set up another conference to give you an update on the results of our actions in Mabhuti.
Nobody can say the Laboratoires Berden do not take their part of the burden. Thank you everyone.
Transcript
Jean-Pierre Lebon
Associated Press of France
Vous aussi contribuez au Post !
Réagir
Publier un post en réponse
Lire la suite
Alerter les modérateurs
24/11/2010 à 11h46 - mis à jour le 24/11/2010 à 11h52 | 7 vues | 0 réactions
BUSINESS
TRANSCRIPT: BERDEN LABORATORIES CEO ERIC DUMONPIERRE ADDRESSES RECENT NGO ATTACKS
November 23, 2010
Eric Dumonpierre held an evening press conference Monday, with the Laboratoires Berden crisis as the main topic. Before taking questions, he gave a brief speech. Here is a transcript of the speech and news conference:
Eric Dumonpierre: Good evening, everybody. Please be seated.
Before I take your questions tonight, I'd like to speak briefly about the state of our business and why I believe we need to put a recovery plan in motion as soon as possible.
Laboratoires Berden has built a large part of its success and international reputation on its human and social policy. A pacesetter in training and profit-sharing, Laboratoires Berden was also one of the first companies to sign international agreements with union organizations.
Today, the Laboratoires are regularly ranked among the best local employers. And in a fast-moving business context, Laboratoires Berden continues to reinvent itself to meet new challenges.
For over thirty years, relationship management and social involvement at Laboratoires Berden has been based on the conviction that there can be no sustainable business development without human development. The two go hand in hand, even as conditions change - for clearly, expectations today are not the same as in the past, with new challenges appearing all the time. This involvement has been shown at several occasions : we have recently been awarded by the AFSUD of the Diversity and Mixity Labels; we have also created with Professor Humus a not-for-profit organization : the Gremleen Berden Lab which aims at reducing poverty by bringing health through innovative medicine to children using a unique community-based business model.
However, in order to improve the effectiveness and productivity of our operations and ensure the long term sustainability of Laboratoires Berden, the company has had to undertake restructuring programs. It might also have to do so in the future. That is how business goes. Laboratoires Berden has strong social and societal commitments but it is a for-profit organization, and as such, is entitled to remain efficient while under the continuous stress of competition.
We are very conscious of the effect restructuring has on our employees and if options exist where we can achieve our financial goals and still preserve jobs we will do everything we can to do so. We aim to treat our employees with dignity and respect and offer a wide range of support for all affected employees. This includes a competitive severance package and outplacement support such as assistance in finding alternative employment, career counseling and retraining.
It has been the toughest decision I had to make in my life but we had to close our site of Bectot. This was a question of life and death for the Laboratoires Berden. We have imagined hundreds of other scenarios but only one was sustainable: localize our production of Mutorex in the City of Roukarta in Mabhouti. My only mistake might have been, because the difficulty of the decision, to have taken it too late. As a consequence, Bernard Le Montron has inherited from the quasi-impossible task to restart the production in a few weeks.
Bernard Le Montron has been with us for 25 years and who has always shown a complete alignment with our values and our strong commitment for a sustainable development.
We must say, he has been very successful in his mission with regard to production. If Laboratoires Berden still exists, it is highly to the promptness and high effectiveness of M. Le Montron. Furthermore, despite the time constraints and production issues, M. Le Montron has also been very active on the social side of the project. Right from the beginning, he has insisted on building a program aiming at sending underprivileged Mabhuti children to school, while offering them a job at Laboratoires Berden a few hours a day. The children of the Berden Academy will be able to acquire fundamental knowledge to build their future while helping their family to survive.
However, the social situation he inherited was worse than the one we imagined. Previous owners of the plant had much lower standards than Laboratoires Berden's. We recognize that we have not yet reached the objectives we had set for ourselves in Mabhuti. The recent declaration of a Laboratoires Berden's employee illustrates this fact, and we do not deny that we still have some work to do. But let this supplementary testimony be taken as proof that our social and societal values are shared among all of our employees. It gives me pride for my employees and hence, it gives me further motivation to accelerate our program.
We have already asked the NGO "United for a Sustainable South” to help us on this project and to work hand in hand with us. I will fly over to Mabhuti with our HR SVP Ye-Chui Khan, within the very next days in order visit the plant. I will reaffirm my full confidence in all of our employees and in our COO Bernard Le Montron; I will evaluate by myself the progress which have been made and the progress still to be made. I am confident that we will collectively meet this new social challenge. We will set up another conference to give you an update on the results of our actions in Mabhuti.
Nobody can say the Laboratoires Berden do not take their part of the burden. Thank you everyone.
Transcript
Jean-Pierre Lebon
Associated Press of France
Vous aussi contribuez au Post !
Réagir
Publier un post en réponse
Lire la suite
Alerter les modérateurs
Interview Dumonpierre-Pharma Week TV Program
Interview Dumonpierre
Pharma Week TV Program
Simon Bayarde
Abstract: Simon Bayarde and Eric Dumonpierre exchange views about Dumonpierre’s works and expertise in the field of pharmaceuticals, review his book “Strategic Pharmaceutical”, and discuss the present and future issues of Laboratoires Berden.
SB - Dear friends at home or in studio, here we are again at “Pharma Week”, to keep you company for the next 15 minutes as usual. We have a special event tonight, and are very pleased to welcome in the studio with us Mr. Eric Dumonpierre, the brilliant CEO of well-known Laboratoires Berden. Welcome on board, M. Dumonpierre!
ED – Thanks a lot for the invitation, it is always a pleasure to be in the company of people as passionate about the health and environment as you are.
SB – Thank you. Even though no introduction is needed, it is important to mention that M. Dumonpierre has been working in the pharmaceutical industry for more than 20 years and is one of the most experienced managers in Europe in this field; in more recent years, Eric Dumonpierre published his first book, “Strategic Pharmaceutical”, and gained the Award as best CEO of the Year in France, which he received with humility, always stressing the importance of the whole company’s contribution for this prize. So, M. Dumonpierre, would you first comment about the impact of your first book?
ED - With pleasure. As many people may know, it was written some time ago, in 1991, while I was still working for Hyppo Inc. Since then many things have changed, but my resolve has not. I continue to act with the same enthusiasm and eagerness to build a better world for everyone - society, my family, and especially the people who help me with their great job at Laboratoires Berden. I like to think of the book as “a mix of thoughts, hopes, expectations, and expertise” on what I find to be the meaning of working in the pharmaceutical industry. I have tried to put together strategic theories and the more human dimension, and I have tried to share the expertise and the beliefs I have gained in my 10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical sector with everyone, especially the actors of the industry.
SB – The same experience which led toward the creation of the Laboratoires Berden?
ED – Yes, it was something I wanted to do: create a new, innovative enterprise. It is not completely to my own credit, I like to say, but more to all the people who work with me. This comes from my core values: I try to take into account many points of views before making important decisions. People truly are the heart of the Laboratoires’ business. I am pleased to say that even after 20 additional years of experience, I am able to perform my job with the same great pleasure.
SB – The company was awarded many important prizes: you yourself were nominated “CEO of the year”, and more recently the company gained the Mixity Label.
ED – As for myself, I was quite surprised to receive the Award. I feel as if there are more deserving CEOs who have achieved than myself. In any case, it was a welcome reward for many years of hard work and dedication.
On the other hand, obtaining the Mixity Label was something great for the entire company. At Laboratoires Berden we strongly believe in the power of people, as I said, and we have always encouraged diversity in our team. We built a special support program to encourage even more this important feature, and this is the result. I want to thank all my friends of Laboratories Berden, because this is a victory for all of us and gives us more strength to keep on this path. My aim is to be recognized as a contributor of social wealth to the society, rather than only a pharmaceutical company. In today’s world, society and business have to go in the same direction: this is what we, at Laboratoires Berden, try to do day after day.
SB – In the last month, however, you have been attacked on all fronts by NGOs for the working conditions of your factory in Mabhuti. What is the your position on this issue?
ED – I think the effort NGOs put in denouncing bad habits in companies is remarkable, I would say fundamental. As I said, I am among the ones who believe society and business should walk the same path. This means everybody has to contribute, and partnership is important between all actors, especially in a historically controversial sector such as pharmaceuticals: NGOs, companies, governments, all have to work together to fight illegal or ethically bad practices.
People like me, managers directly involved in this specific sector, have the obligation to acknowledge the fact that many enterprises don’t, and have never, taken into account the health and working conditions of their employees, both in their home countries and abroad. I am not saying this problem does not exist: sadly, it is a quite persistent. And I am thankful to associations and NGOs who put effort in these activities of denouncement. It is important, however, to stress once more the importance that Laboratoires Berden gives to our workers, who are not only “resources”, as many companies have considered them in history, but a real part of the “Berden family”; our decision of delocalizing in Mabhuti is the result of a long study taking into account economic, social and environmental issues, and has been carefully discussed within the company. Our goal is not at all exploiting young, cheap workers to get more profit, as many believe, but rather crating wealth and better living conditions for many families in this country, through access to jobs, a fair pay, above-law standard working conditions.
As our representatives in-loco have stressed recently, the reports we get from consultants are just a necessary part of our assessment procedure, a first step. The way we act in our day-to-day activities is always connected to our long term strategy, which is one of a sustainable growth.
Of course, the creation of the Berden Academy is one important step in this direction, but not the only one. Improving living conditions of our employees is something you build in the long run, and as with many activities at the very heart of a company’s business, something for which you have to have a vision. We have been building this vision for years now.
SB – Still, a manager of your own company has recently denounced the conduct of Laboratoires Berden in Mabhuti. What does he refer to?
ED – The situation is quite clear: Laboratoires Berden acquired a factory in Mabhuti based on our need for consistent growth, without forgetting for a moment the fact that we entered this market with a mission. We employ 18 girls aged 14-15 on a packaging line with a workload well below half of the country’s average, which goes in line with our goal of helping children and their families out of poverty. Another company could easily have employed half of the people for the double of hours and adhered to local law, but we didn’t. We chose social contribution above profits and remained coherent with Berden’s vision.
Now, in this world we live in, there are lots of people trying to take advantage of a particular situation. I think this is the case with our manager. I want to make it clear, and to reassure everybody, that Laboratoires Berden is doing things properly in Mabhuti. Changes of the ingrained habits in underdeveloped nations may take long time, but we’re on the right track and I’m sure all the skeptics will soon be convinced of our good faith.
Of course we knew of the existence of child labour in Mabhuti before coming here, but our excellent research allowed us to see the labor laws as an opportunity for local development rather than exploitation. I think it is fundamental to know the risks that people face in any country if you want to assure that no harm comes to your employees.
SB – Thanks a lot, M. Dumonpierre. It was a very interesting conversation, but unfortunately time is up. This was Eric Dumonpierre, CEO of Laboratoires Berden. Thank you for your contribution.
ED – It was a pleasure. Thanks to you, and to all our friends at home.
SB – See you all next week, on “Pharma Week”!
Pharma Week TV Program
Simon Bayarde
Abstract: Simon Bayarde and Eric Dumonpierre exchange views about Dumonpierre’s works and expertise in the field of pharmaceuticals, review his book “Strategic Pharmaceutical”, and discuss the present and future issues of Laboratoires Berden.
SB - Dear friends at home or in studio, here we are again at “Pharma Week”, to keep you company for the next 15 minutes as usual. We have a special event tonight, and are very pleased to welcome in the studio with us Mr. Eric Dumonpierre, the brilliant CEO of well-known Laboratoires Berden. Welcome on board, M. Dumonpierre!
ED – Thanks a lot for the invitation, it is always a pleasure to be in the company of people as passionate about the health and environment as you are.
SB – Thank you. Even though no introduction is needed, it is important to mention that M. Dumonpierre has been working in the pharmaceutical industry for more than 20 years and is one of the most experienced managers in Europe in this field; in more recent years, Eric Dumonpierre published his first book, “Strategic Pharmaceutical”, and gained the Award as best CEO of the Year in France, which he received with humility, always stressing the importance of the whole company’s contribution for this prize. So, M. Dumonpierre, would you first comment about the impact of your first book?
ED - With pleasure. As many people may know, it was written some time ago, in 1991, while I was still working for Hyppo Inc. Since then many things have changed, but my resolve has not. I continue to act with the same enthusiasm and eagerness to build a better world for everyone - society, my family, and especially the people who help me with their great job at Laboratoires Berden. I like to think of the book as “a mix of thoughts, hopes, expectations, and expertise” on what I find to be the meaning of working in the pharmaceutical industry. I have tried to put together strategic theories and the more human dimension, and I have tried to share the expertise and the beliefs I have gained in my 10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical sector with everyone, especially the actors of the industry.
SB – The same experience which led toward the creation of the Laboratoires Berden?
ED – Yes, it was something I wanted to do: create a new, innovative enterprise. It is not completely to my own credit, I like to say, but more to all the people who work with me. This comes from my core values: I try to take into account many points of views before making important decisions. People truly are the heart of the Laboratoires’ business. I am pleased to say that even after 20 additional years of experience, I am able to perform my job with the same great pleasure.
SB – The company was awarded many important prizes: you yourself were nominated “CEO of the year”, and more recently the company gained the Mixity Label.
ED – As for myself, I was quite surprised to receive the Award. I feel as if there are more deserving CEOs who have achieved than myself. In any case, it was a welcome reward for many years of hard work and dedication.
On the other hand, obtaining the Mixity Label was something great for the entire company. At Laboratoires Berden we strongly believe in the power of people, as I said, and we have always encouraged diversity in our team. We built a special support program to encourage even more this important feature, and this is the result. I want to thank all my friends of Laboratories Berden, because this is a victory for all of us and gives us more strength to keep on this path. My aim is to be recognized as a contributor of social wealth to the society, rather than only a pharmaceutical company. In today’s world, society and business have to go in the same direction: this is what we, at Laboratoires Berden, try to do day after day.
SB – In the last month, however, you have been attacked on all fronts by NGOs for the working conditions of your factory in Mabhuti. What is the your position on this issue?
ED – I think the effort NGOs put in denouncing bad habits in companies is remarkable, I would say fundamental. As I said, I am among the ones who believe society and business should walk the same path. This means everybody has to contribute, and partnership is important between all actors, especially in a historically controversial sector such as pharmaceuticals: NGOs, companies, governments, all have to work together to fight illegal or ethically bad practices.
People like me, managers directly involved in this specific sector, have the obligation to acknowledge the fact that many enterprises don’t, and have never, taken into account the health and working conditions of their employees, both in their home countries and abroad. I am not saying this problem does not exist: sadly, it is a quite persistent. And I am thankful to associations and NGOs who put effort in these activities of denouncement. It is important, however, to stress once more the importance that Laboratoires Berden gives to our workers, who are not only “resources”, as many companies have considered them in history, but a real part of the “Berden family”; our decision of delocalizing in Mabhuti is the result of a long study taking into account economic, social and environmental issues, and has been carefully discussed within the company. Our goal is not at all exploiting young, cheap workers to get more profit, as many believe, but rather crating wealth and better living conditions for many families in this country, through access to jobs, a fair pay, above-law standard working conditions.
As our representatives in-loco have stressed recently, the reports we get from consultants are just a necessary part of our assessment procedure, a first step. The way we act in our day-to-day activities is always connected to our long term strategy, which is one of a sustainable growth.
Of course, the creation of the Berden Academy is one important step in this direction, but not the only one. Improving living conditions of our employees is something you build in the long run, and as with many activities at the very heart of a company’s business, something for which you have to have a vision. We have been building this vision for years now.
SB – Still, a manager of your own company has recently denounced the conduct of Laboratoires Berden in Mabhuti. What does he refer to?
ED – The situation is quite clear: Laboratoires Berden acquired a factory in Mabhuti based on our need for consistent growth, without forgetting for a moment the fact that we entered this market with a mission. We employ 18 girls aged 14-15 on a packaging line with a workload well below half of the country’s average, which goes in line with our goal of helping children and their families out of poverty. Another company could easily have employed half of the people for the double of hours and adhered to local law, but we didn’t. We chose social contribution above profits and remained coherent with Berden’s vision.
Now, in this world we live in, there are lots of people trying to take advantage of a particular situation. I think this is the case with our manager. I want to make it clear, and to reassure everybody, that Laboratoires Berden is doing things properly in Mabhuti. Changes of the ingrained habits in underdeveloped nations may take long time, but we’re on the right track and I’m sure all the skeptics will soon be convinced of our good faith.
Of course we knew of the existence of child labour in Mabhuti before coming here, but our excellent research allowed us to see the labor laws as an opportunity for local development rather than exploitation. I think it is fundamental to know the risks that people face in any country if you want to assure that no harm comes to your employees.
SB – Thanks a lot, M. Dumonpierre. It was a very interesting conversation, but unfortunately time is up. This was Eric Dumonpierre, CEO of Laboratoires Berden. Thank you for your contribution.
ED – It was a pleasure. Thanks to you, and to all our friends at home.
SB – See you all next week, on “Pharma Week”!
jeudi 18 novembre 2010
CSR Prize
I am very please to tell you that I have received the famous CSR prize given by Corporate & Environment Magazine. This prize acknowledges good actions in the field of CSR.
Interview by the Magazine coming very soon!
Interview by the Magazine coming very soon!
Links of my amazing company
Hello,
As you may know, I am working for Berden. Here are the links if you are interested !
http://laboratoiresberden.jimdo.com/
http://berdenacademy.jimdo.com
As you may know, I am working for Berden. Here are the links if you are interested !
http://laboratoiresberden.jimdo.com/
http://berdenacademy.jimdo.com
mercredi 17 novembre 2010
Well, web 2.0 is clearly getting to me !
Thanks to the influence of my kids, I have now joined facebook ! Yes, indeed, we can now become friends ! Add me on facebook !
And I have just discovered that someone (an admirer ?!) has created a wikipedia page for me !!! check it !
jeudi 11 novembre 2010
vendredi 5 novembre 2010
Eric Dumonpierre's thoughts
Welcome on this blog !
This an amazing opportunity for me, Eric Dumonpierre, to share my life and expectations about the business world and more especially about the environment.
Eric Dumonpierre
This an amazing opportunity for me, Eric Dumonpierre, to share my life and expectations about the business world and more especially about the environment.
Eric Dumonpierre
Inscription à :
Articles (Atom)