CODE OF CONDUCT FOR EMPLOYEES
Approved by the Board of Directors
in their meeting held on June 30, 2012
This code is the source of guidance for conduct and applies to all employees (senior manager, staff and workers) of D. G. Khan Cement Company Limited (“the Company”). Employees are required to follow the code of conduct. Therefore, it is the personal responsibility of an employee to read, understand and apply this code in their day to day affairs.
If an employee is not at work and wears a shirt with the logo of the Company or drives a vehicle with the logo of the Company, people would perceive that the employee is representing its company. Employee is required to follow the code because an employee’s conduct affects the image of the company.
The Code of Conduct will actively be made available to all employees and can be accessed at any time on the Company's website.
If an employee has supervisory or leadership role, than they have additional responsibility to:
• Educate its employees on this Code of Conduct and the requirements applicable to its employees' work activities;
• Promote compliance with this Code of Conduct and other relevant policies, standards, and procedures; and
• Report suspicions or allegations of employee misconduct in accordance with company’s procedures.
This Code of Conduct is not intended to supersede any other applicable legal or regulatory requirements of the country in which business of the Company is in operation.
Compliance Office
The Human Resources department will act as Compliance Office for the code. If an employee has any queries, problems or issues relating to the Code he or she should contact with Human Resources department. The Compliance Office is responsible to educate, train and develop understanding of the code among employees.
Compliance Obligations
The Company expects this Code of Conduct to be followed and will not tolerate any breaches. Therefore, it is an employee responsibility to read, understand and apply this code in its day to day affairs. An employee may contact its Human Resources department in case of any question about the Code.
Failure to comply with this Code or company policies may result in disciplinary action or termination. Discipline decisions can vary depending on the severity of the misconduct and the employee’s disciplinary record, years of service and job duties. An employee must contact its Compliance Office / Human Resources representative for assistance in determining appropriate discipline.
Following is the code of conduct for employees
1. Safety
D. G. Khan Cement Company Limited tries to arrange a safe work environment on its premises. The safety of employees, customers and public is the most important issue on the company’s production facilities, offices, outlets and any other place where the work of the company is in process. An employee must strictly follow the safety policies and procedures and immediately report to their supervisor in case of any occupational injuries and illness, injuries to non-employees, damage to property resulting from any business activities.
2. Fitness for Duty
An employee must be mentally and physically fit and should remain fit for the work. An employee must not be under the influence of a drug or un-prescribed medicine which impairs his/her ability to work efficiently and safely. An employee must report to his/her supervisor if he/she is taking some prescribed or over-the-counter medicines which might affect his/her ability to work efficiently and safely.
3. Attendance Report
An employee must inform to his/her senior or supervisor if he/she is unable to come at the place of his/her duty. For this an employee should always have the contact information of his/her supervisor.
4. Work Place Harassment and Discrimination
All staff will maintain an environment that is free from harassment and in which all employees are equally respected. Workplace harassment is defined as any action that creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment. Such actions include, but are not limited to, sexual harassment, disparaging comments based on gender, religion, race or ethnicity.
The company will take appropriate measures to ensure a discrimination-free workplace. Every employee has the right to be protected from harassment. The principles of equal treatment apply in employees’ daily dealings with each other and to all processes relating to the working relationship, including the hiring and promotion of personnel. Accordingly, there will be no potentially discriminatory questions posed in job advertisements, at job interviews or when making decisions on new appointments. The same applies to career prospects, promotions, vocational training, remuneration and dismissal.
5. Environment
To preserve and protect the environment, all staff members should:
• Design and operate the Company’s facilities and processes so as to ensure the trust of adjoining communities.
• Promote resource conservations, waste minimization and the minimization of the release of chemicals / gas into the environment.
• Provide employees customers, suppliers, public authorities and communities with appropriate information for informed decision making; and
• Strive continuously to improve environmental awareness and protection.
6. Workplace Violence
An employee must not engage in acts or threats of violence. It is the duty of an employee to maintain a safe and secure workplace and avoid acts or threats of physical violence, intimidation, harassment or coercion, stalking, sabotage, and similar activities. Employees who are engaged in such activities will be terminated.
7. Weapons in the Workplace
An employee must not bring, carry, store, or use any type of weapon on the Company owned, leased, or rented property; in the company owned, leased, or rented vehicle; in a personal vehicle while on the Company’s business; or at a job site, whether on or off duty, unless an employee is explicitly authorized and have a legitimate business reason to do so.
8. Protection and Proper Use of Company Assets
An employee is expected to exercise their business judgment in a manner that protects the Company's assets and promotes their efficient use. An employee must follow the acquisition, use, maintenance and disposal policies for the acquisition, use, maintenance and disposal of the Company’s assets.
All Company assets are to be used for legitimate business purposes. An employee may use the company assets on limited basis with the permission of his/her senior or supervisor.
9. Computer and System Security
An employee is responsible for ensuring the security of the Company’s computers and information system by complying with the company's information technology policy. It is the responsibility of an employee that he/she:
• Doesn’t share passwords or other access credentials with any other person or group and don't use another person's password.
• Use only approved, authorized, and properly licensed software on the Company’s computer systems.
• Connect only the Company’s owned computers and equipment to the Company networks.
• Doesn't attempt to circumvent or attack security controls on a computer system or network.
• Doesn't access or download pornographic, gaming, file sharing, or other inappropriate files or websites.
• Doesn't store inappropriate or pirated content on his/her company equipment.
Immediately report any suspected or actual breach of the Company’s computer system or network security to Information Security's.
10. Social Media
Social networking sites like Face book and Twitter are used by many to share insights, opinions, and information. Unless an employee is an officially designated company spokesperson, he/she is not authorized to speak on behalf of D. G. Khan Cement Company Limited Mills Limited through social media channels, regardless of whether he/she is using a company device or personal device.
In the course of an employee’s own personal use of these sites, if he/she chooses to post information related to the Company than an employee is personally accountable for what he/she posts online. Remember, once information is posted to the Internet, it is there for good. An employee must:
• Be open and honest about who he/she is and its role with the company.
• Always include a disclaimer stating that the views an employee publishes are his/her own and don’t necessarily reflect those of D. G. Khan Cement Company Limited Mills Limited (unless an employee is authorized to speak on behalf of the company).
• Be truthful and accurate.
• Be respectful.
• Disagree agreeably and be professional.
• Protect confidential information and respect copyright and fair use laws.
11. Fair Dealing
Each employee is expected to deal fairly with the respective customer of the Company, suppliers, competitors, officers, and employees. None should take unfair advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts, or any other unfair dealing practice and will not accept or receive gifts from any of the customers, stakeholders, suppliers, bankers etc. Inappropriate use of proprietary information, misusing trade secret information or inducing such disclosures by past or present employees of other companies is prohibited.
12. Bribery
The payment of bribes kickbacks or other payments in cash or kind to obtain business or otherwise gain advantage is strictly prohibited, irrespective of whether payments or offers are made directly or (knowingly) via an intermediary.
Such payments are fundamentally inconsistent with the desire to maintain high standards of integrity in its business and relationships.
13. Confidential Information
Staff members should not keep or make copies of correspondence, documents, papers and records, list of suppliers or consumers without the consent of the Company. Company’s information and records should be kept on Company premises only and unpublished information may be disclosed to external organizations / individuals only on “need to know” basis. In case of doubt in this regard, the Management’s advice should be sought.
14. Regulatory Compliance and Corporate Governance
D. G. Khan Cement Company Limited co-operates with all governmental and regulatory bodies and is committed to high standards of corporate governance. D. G. Khan Cement Company Limited Mills Limited is fully compliant to its obligations under the Listing Rules of three Stock Exchanges, of whom it is a listed member. All the employees of the Company are required to abide by the country’s laws, rules and regulations.
15. Financial Integrity
Compliance with accepted accounting rules and procedure is required at all times. In addition to being duly authorized, all transactions must be properly and fully recorded. No record entry of document may be false or misleading and no undisclosed and unrecorded account, fund or asset may be established or maintained. No corporate payment may be requested, approved or made with the intention that any part of such payment is to be used for any purpose other than as described in the document supporting it. All information supplied to the auditors must be complete and not misleading.
An employee must not knowingly assist in fraudulent activities (e.g. tax evasion) by others. If an employee have any reason to believe that fraudulent activities are taking place (whether within or by others with whom we do business), he/she must report it to his/her manager immediately.
16. Alcohol, Drug and Gambling
An employee must not use alcohol in any form within the company premises. Similarly, the use of drugs, except under medical advice, is prohibited on all company locations / premises.
All forms of gambling / betting on the Company’s premises are forbidden.
17. Insider Trading
The company has a stringent policy on insider trading and securities transactions. Certain senior executives and finance staff can deal in the company’s shares any time outside the closed period announced by the company on the eve of quarterly Board meetings. The employee must adhere to the company policy on insider trading. An employee must follow the principle of confidentiality and must not disclose any information in the public unless the financial results are declared.
Sanctions
Any contravention of this Code will be internally investigated. In applicable cases it will also have consequences in labor law and may lead to external investigations and action in the Pakistani courts of law.