Effective as of yesterday (8 April), the measures will also see Suez employees in countries without an adequate social system receive at least 50% of their salary.
Bertrand Camus, Suez CEO, said: “Suez is currently mobilized to provide our customers with essential services during the global sanitary crisis.
“Due to its geographical span and scope, and thanks to the solidity of its balance sheet, the Group can set up solidarity contributions in addition to its operational commitment.
“We are preparing for tomorrow, today.”
Last month, Suez moved to reassure the public it was committed to maintaining services in the face of the virus (see letsrecycle.com story).
“We are preparing for tomorrow, today”
In France, Suez is to provide a net €1,000 bonus to all teams on the ground mobilised to ensure water treatment and waste collection services are maintained, while employees who have been placed on partial unemployment will receive their salary in full. Profit-sharing is to be paid to stakeholders as per the company’s initial schedule.
The company says the measures have been announced to provide and reinforce financial resources to fight the coronavirus.
Board members
Mr Camus and the France-based company’s executive committee members are to donate 25% of their salaries to finance research and provide support for healthcare workers during the lockdown period.
Suez describes this contribution as a “measure of solidarity”.
The funds are to go via the Suez Foundation to the Institut Pasteur, a French foundation dedicated to the study of biology, micro-organisms, diseases, and vaccines, and children’s charity Unicef. The company says that, in addition, the Suez Foundation will allocate a “significant” part of its budget to COVID-19 support measures.
And, Suez says its board of directors has called on its shareholders to adopt a dividend of €0.45 per share at its upcoming general assembly, which would represent a reduction of around a third compared to the previous fiscal year.
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