EFES Georgia, Natakhtari Producer, allocated GEL 200,000 for Anti –Coronavirus Measures
Due to crisis caused by COVID -19 pandemic, private companies had to restructure their activities in various directions – supply of services or products in an uninterrupted manner, transition to remote working mode, tightening up security norms and adapting to new reality turned out to be crucial for them.
During COVID -19 pandemic, EFES Georgia, in accordance with the recommendations and regulations of the WHO and the Georgian Government, identified several clear priorities that include protecting the health and safety of employees, consumers and business partners.
Nikoloz Khundzakishvili, Corporate Affairs Director of EFES Georgia, talked to us about the type of restructuring the company applied:
Following appearance of the first coronavirus case in Georgia, we started implementation of WHO and the Government’s recommendations – we moved majority of employees to the remote working mode and are holding meetings only online. Disinfection works are regularly being conducted in company’s offices, plants and vehicles. The production process is automated at maximum extent and does not require human involvement.
In addition, the company minimized work hours and coverage area for field groups. Access of external visitors to the enterprise and administrative offices got prohibited. Complete disinfection of equipment, workshops, products and vehicles are performed daily, for which special mobile groups were established. Remote thermal screening is performed for all employees. Field workers, including distributors, are provided with gloves, masks and hand sanitizers.
Moreover, information posters about preventive measures against COVID -19 were placed at the brewery and in the other spaces. Special educational training was delivered for staff and management is continuously expanding preventive measures. Our company was one of the first to move to remote working mode and we believed that well organized anti-COVID-19 measures would help us to avert potential complications.
The company within the scope of its social responsibility allocated GEL 200 thousand for supporting response measures. Which programs were financed with this amount?
Company EFES Georgia allocated financial assistance for STOPCOV Fund in the amount of GEL 50,000. In addition, Natakhtari Fund is supporting beneficiaries (adolescents lacking care) according to their individual needs and supports them with psychologist’s online consultations, apartment rent, essential medicines, resources required for distance learning. The company awarded cash allowance to people who lost their jobs. Also, the Fund continuously provides the beneficiaries with the reliable information on preventive measures against the virus.
The Company provided 2 -month supply of disinfectant to the Infectious Diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Center. In our opinion, delighting various groups with lemonade was important: the company identified the most vulnerable groups and decided to supply them with the lemonade sent through various organizations and funds. These groups were represented by people over 70, socially unprotected families, employees of the government’s “Hotline 144” Center, quarantined citizens and our distinguished doctors.
It is also known that the company supported the barmens who lost their jobs…
Yes, in cooperation with Bartenders Association of Georgia, our partner organization, we provided financial assistance to the bartenders. Around 500 bartenders, members of the Association, left unemployed, received food vouchers. I would like also to mention that the company, for the purpose of implementing preventive measures, handed rapid tests (SARS-CoV-2) with the value of GEL 40,000 over to the state. It is to be emphasized that from the day one of the pandemic we have been assisting the most vulnerable groups. Now that the need for quick detection of the virus has emerged, we are trying to make our contribution in this area as well.
What are your lessons learned from the pandemic and what would you recommend to the other companies?
First of all, we saw that the job can be done effectively remotely as well. It is vital to be able to adapt quickly, understand reality and implement changes. Any crisis is an experience and a great opportunity at the same time. And most importantly, we think that during crisis situations, contribution made by various sectors for the well-being of the public is the most important.