On 5th October 2022, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry has awarded 28 companies with the Dubai Chamber CSR Label and Six Construct, BESIX’s subsidiary in the Middle East, is one of them. This is the tenth 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.
Tool to evaluate CSR practices
Since its launch in 2010, the Dubai Chamber CSR Label has provided a clear and voluntary standard for corporate social responsibility implementation in the UAE and the GCC. It provides companies of all sizes and in all sectors with a diagnostic model, as well as a learning and development tool that helps them to define and improve their corporate sustainability and social responsibility strategies, policies and management practices.
The CSR Label framework covers the main impact areas of sustainability and CSR, namely Environment, Community, Workplace and Marketplace. With the framework, companies can effectively evaluate their social and environmental impact and CSR practices, as well as identify key strengths and points for improvement.
It is the tenth consecutive time that Six Construct was awarded the label, which praises the company for its outstanding CSR efforts in the past year.
“The Dubai Chamber CSR Label is considered one of the highest levels 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 tenth consecutive year”, says Peter Lembrechts, General Manager BESIX Middle East.
Excellent CSR and sustainability practices
Prior to awarding the CSR Label, the Dubai Chamber has thoroughly evaluated Six Construct’s CSR & Sustainability practices. The company was praised for its human resource practices on top of the solid foundation of quality and safety systems.
Through various initiatives, practices and policies, it effectively promotes a safe, diverse and inclusive work environment. For example, Six Construct offers a wide variety of employee training and development programmes via the BESIX Potential Academy. In addition, there is the Right 2 Learn initiative by BESIX Foundation, which coaches blue-collar workers with basic computer and internet skills, and basic English reading and speaking skills.
In addition, the Dubai Chamber praises Six Construct for the quality of its health and safety management and emphasis on employee welfare.
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.). 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 system to minimize the environmental impact of its construction activities.
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.