The first name that comes to mind when you hear the words FMCG is Unilever Pakistan. That statement in itself is enough to gauge the company’s popularity and confidence in the country. Today, every household in the country uses and swears by Unilever Pakistan’s products, making it one of Pakistan’s most renowned brands.
The manufacturing giant has always been several steps ahead in terms of innovation and technology in an effort to provide the best quality products for its customers. But that’s not the only arena where Unilever shines. The company is also miles ahead when it comes to organizational practices such as a flexible work environment, their equality, diversity and their inclusion policies. The company is a torchbearer in business when it comes to empowering women. They make it a point to support, promote and facilitate women. This includes their female workforce and the country’s countless women through their various campaigns and programs over the years. All of this has helped the company set new standards for its competitors and otherwise.
The Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry – the OICCI Women Empowerment Awards took place recently. At the ceremony, Unilever Pakistan received the top honor “OICCI Women Empowerment Award 2021”. The organization has been commended and recognized for its tireless efforts to promote inclusion, diversity and equality. The award also shows how Unilever is one of the few organizations that leaves no stone unturned when it comes to gender inclusion. The honor is an important milestone in raising awareness of diversity and the empowerment of women in our society.
Unilever is an organization that is aware of the lack of opportunities for women and therefore actively advocates for women’s representation. The company is on track to go further than ever to break down barriers and create opportunities for growth and progress in our workplaces, our operations and most importantly, our society. They sincerely believe that this will have a significant impact on the world, besides being beneficial to their business. This award is a form of encouragement for the company to continue in that direction.
Unilever values its female employees and always encourages them for their work. Women hold important positions in the company and are active in all departments. They are aware of the challenges women face when they come to work, so they have facilities such as day care centers for female workers who have to take their children to work. The company offers them maternity leave and health insurance in addition to other benefits. That’s not all. Unilever Pakistan also has a Career By Choice program that encourages women to return to the workplace after taking a sabbatical.
The Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) members are made up of top 200 foreign investors. The committee emphasizes the increasing importance of women and how their involvement is crucial to creating a stimulating environment. According to OICCI President Ghias Khan, the truth is that women are needed at the forefront to accelerate the country’s economic growth. He warmly praised the commitment of foreign investors at the 2021 OICCI Women Empowerment Awards held earlier last week.
OICCI has initiated several investigations. The committee conducts an annual survey of its members by recognizing those who have played a critical role in focusing on women’s empowerment. An OICCI policy paper entitled “Increasing Women’s Inclusion in the Pakistan Economy” was presented to the Ministry of Human Rights last year.
“OICCI had initiated the OICCI Women Empowerment initiative in 2017 and has regularly made its voice heard for women empowerment among its members,” Khan added.
“The aim of the awards is to put women at the center of business and operations and to highlight women’s sensitivity and acumen. Women are also business runners and executives who deserve a seat on the high table and it is high time the world, both business and otherwise, made room for them.”
