Annual report 2017

2017 ANNUAL REPORT Železiarne Podbrezová a.s. 17 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY Environmental protection and occupational health and safety have long been an integral part of management systems and a permanent part of the business activities of Železiarne Podbrezová a.s. Based on the previous effectiveness and functionality analyses of individual management systems, the Company implemented a joint internal combined audit of the two management systems for environmental management and occupational health and safety in 2016. The integrated management system combines: The environmental management system (SEM) under ISO 14001; The occupational health and safety management system (SRBP) under OHSAS 18001. In 2017, SGS Slovakia spol. s r.o. performed supervision audits of SRBP and SEM. The audit results showed compliance with the requirements of OHSAS 18001 and ISO 14001, which confirmed the functionality of the integrated management system. The recertification audits for SEM and SRBP will take place in 2018 and 2019, respectively. We met a total of nine environmental objectives (EUR 217 thousand) and 25 occupational health and safety objectives (EUR 2 612 thousand) under the defined tasks in 2017. HUMAN RESOURCES Železiarne Podbrezová a.s. has paid special attention to HR management over the long term. Looking after our employees is a Company priority and includes recruitment, selection and education of young people, remuneration, a sophisticated occupational health and safety system, and continual education and benefits. In 2017, the Company again adopted the Personnel, Wage, Social and Occupational Health and Safety Policy Programme. The programme is set out in two basic documents: the 2017 Collective Agreement concluded between ZO OZ KOVO (KOVO trade union works council) and the Company’s Board of Directors, and the 2017 Employee Care Programme of the Board of Directors of Železiarne Podbrezová a.s. The Company fully met its obligations arising from the said documents. EUR 470 thousand was spent from the social fund in 2017. The most significant items were as follows: Catering services for employees EUR 350 thousand; 24/7 accident insurance for all employees EUR 49 thousand; Children’s holiday camps EUR 32 thousand; Employee rehabilitation vouchers EUR 15 thousand; Recuperation stays for employees who are blood donors EUR 5 thousand. The Employee Care Programme was extended to include the following: Employer’s contribution to employee supplementary pension schemes EUR 1 013 thousand; Protective equipment and employee’s drinking regime EUR 526 thousand; Retirement and severance payments to employees EUR 477 thousand; Preparation of future workforce and granting of scholarships EUR 388 thousand; Improvement of employee qualifications EUR 188 thousand; Bonuses for major work and life anniversaries EUR 123 thousand; Convalescence stays and preventative medical checks for employees EUR 200 thousand; Comprehensive programme of recuperative measures EUR 2 612 thousand. REPORT BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON BUSINESS ACTIVITIES, ASSETS, AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE IN 2017 AND INFORMATION ON THE BUSINESS PLAN