Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry has presented the 21 companies which were awarded the Dubai Chamber CSR Label and Six Construct, BESIX’s subsidiary in the Middle East, is one of them. This is the ninth consecutive time that the company has had the honour to receive the label, which recognises its continued commitment and efforts to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability practices in the Middle East.
People-oriented
After a thorough evaluation of Six Construct’s CSR & Sustainability practices, the Dubai Chamber has come to the conclusion that the company’s human resource practices are its main strength, on top of the solid foundation of quality and safety systems. Through various initiatives, practices and policies, it effectively promotes a safe, positive and diverse working environment.
The implementation of the International Framework Agreement (IFA) demonstrates BESIX Group’s continuing willingness to secure the welfare of workers in the Middle East. The company also provides assistance to its employees on the Covid-19 vaccination, as a part of its sound health and safety culture.
The company offers a wide variety of employee training and development programmes via the BESIX Potential Academy. Moreover, there is also the Right 2 Learn initiative by BESIX Foundation, to coach its blue-collar workers with basic computer and internet skills, and basic English reading and speaking skills.
Other strengths in terms of human resources are, among others, the share of young female engineers in the company, with 40% of the engineers that are hired being female. On top of that, its commitment to responsible customer relationships was positively mentioned in the evaluation.
Sustainability mindset
Six Construct is also committed to sustainability and the environment. Its in-house experts assist the clients in achieving their sustainability goals through green rating certifications (LEED, Estidama, GSAS BREEAM, CEEQUAL, etc.). It also delivers sustainable solutions in the choice of materials and embed sustainable design features according clients’ expectations. Another demonstration of that commitment is the BEsim initiative, which encourages a maximum re-use of offices, site setups and unitization of renewable energy. Next to this, the company has put several energy and water saving initiatives in place. It is ISO 14001 certified, which sets out the criteria for a robust environmental management systems to minimize the environmental impact of its construction activities.
“The Dubai Chamber CSR Label is considered one of the highest level of recognition for the CSR/Sustainability efforts and commitment of businesses in the Middle East. We are therefore extremely honoured to receive the label for the ninth consecutive year”, says Olivier Crasson, General Manager BESIX Middle East.
About Six Construct
Operating in the United Arab Emirates since 1966, Six Construct is a subsidiary of BESIX Group, the largest Belgian construction company, and has been a driving force in the development of the Arabian Peninsula. It designs and builds the most complex projects, comprising buildings and skyscrapers, marine-related projects, infrastructures, waste and water treatment installations, sports and leisure facilities. The company stands out by having an in-house Engineering department, with state-of-the-art expertise in diverse fields enabling it to carry out unique projects, particularly in terms of technical and environmental aspects.
In the United Arab Emirates, Six Construct has notably participated to the construction of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, the Dubai Tram, the Emirates Palace, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Dubai Water Canal, the Ferrari World theme park as well as major terminals and port facilities.
