Social issues
The Group is of the view that respect for the society it is part of is of key importance for its future success. Our approach to social issues has been defined and described in the Strategy for Sustainable Development for 2017-2020. Its primary objective is to conduct production in a way least onerous for local communities (i.e. limitation of mining damage, land restoration and revitalization of the areas transformed by mining operations, noise reduction).
As regards negative impact of mining operations that can be mitigated, but cannot be fully eliminated, the Group tries to repair and compensate both through direct indemnification of persons, whose property was damaged as a result of mining, as well as through support of pro-social actions in the regions where the Group’s companies operate.
The Strategy also envisages meetings of JSW Management Board with representatives of local governments1 in the areas of the Group’s operation, including (depending on the topic of individual meetings) with other stakeholders (e.g. representatives of the State Mining Authority, vocational schools and universities, the Voivodship Inspectorate for Environmental Protection. Those meetings are designed to present JSW’s plan for the nearest future, in the context of, inter alia:
- employment (planned recruitment, employee profile, cooperation with vocational schools and universities in the region),
- underground works planned in a given year, including the areas of planned extraction, where surface deformation and mining damage may be expected),
- planned surface works, including management of extractive waste, landscape development/re-cultivation of areas degraded by mining damage, and extractive waste management facilities and their potential use,
- mining damage analysis, preventive works, repairs and compensations.
This approach, based on an open and honest dialog and joint work towards solutions, was initiated in June 2017 during the International Mining Forum “Mining of the Future – New Problems and Solutions”. The discussion panel: “Sustainable development – MINING IS OK. Stakeholder Relations as a Pillar of Corporate Social responsibility”, which also introduced and consulted the assumptions for the Strategy for Sustainable development for 2017-2020, was attended, intera alia, by representatives of all local governments where JSW Group conducts its operations. 2017 also saw individual meetings of the members of the Management Board with representatives of local governments. Another noteworthy initiative is the Program JZR ROZWÓJ (JZR DEVELOPMENT), designed to expand the plant’s production and repair operations for the delivery to JSW of finished products made in the former Krupiński mine. The launch of new production in the Suszec community will undoubtedly contribute to job creation within the Group, as well as in the companies of sub-suppliers and subcontractors. The purpose of the Program is to develop the areas of the former Krupiński mine, which will have a positive impact on local communities and the environment, achieved through re-cultivation of post-industrial areas.
Being aware that it is not possible to eliminate or radically reduce various types of burden and hazards resulting from mining operations so that they are unnoticeable to local communities, the Group tries to compensate those downsides by socially-addressed activity in the region. It engages in the life of local communities in the areas of its operations. The Group also offers help in solving problems which are important for those communities, e.g. by the way of helping health care establishments; supporting children and young people; supporting interesting, innovative and effective solutions in such areas as education, health, ecology and culture. The Group is an important patron of sports in the region.
Another path of social involvement – and an important one from the viewpoint of future supply of qualified workforce – is the program of cooperation – started last year - with secondary schools and universities educating future employees of mining-related occupations. The program envisages, inter alia, cooperation in the area of: trainee and apprenticeship placements for school and university students, support of schools and universities in the development of education and learning programs, further training for teachers in the Group’s companies, support for talented pupils and students and innovative pupil or student projects related to hard coal mining or economic use of coal.
In terms of operational management, social issues have been unequivocally defined as critical for the functioning of the Group’s companies and contained in the Policy of Integrated Management System at Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa S.A. The policy envisages, inter alia, development of the Company’s long-term success and value with reference to the principles of corporate social responsibility; it also identifies the key areas of responsibility (including consistent approach to social issues) and underscores the importance of a dialog with the Company’s stakeholders.