Page 5 - InTheLoop(Jan-Mar2020)

message from the ceo cover story

Facing it Together: COVID - 19

Dear Stakeholders, The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a
pandemic on Mar 11, 2020, as it was causing a huge Control Measures: Save the People
impact on peoples’ lives, families and communities, with • EHS & Support Services regulatory task forces ensured
The coronavirus outbreak is a human tragedy having a millions falling sick or succumbing to this viral disease, implementation of all approved mandatory protocols &
growing devastating impact on the global economy. Amid globally. The pandemic has also presented a significant their continuity, including installation of hand sanitizers at
this universal pandemic situation, millions have been existential challenge for people as well as organizations all multiple locations inside company/plants premises within
affected around the world and most enterprises, over the world because lockdown across countries to easy access of employees and regular fumigation was
communities and people are trying to cope with the current prevent the spread of the disease has created an carried out across all offices & factories for mass
situation and looking forward to adopting the new normal, economic crisis as all kinds of businesses have been shut sanitization of the work floors
whatever it will be and whenever it will come. down except those producing bare essentials. • SOPs were developed for security staff and gate control,
provision of gloves, visitors’ protocol and symptoms
At Interloop, we kick-started 2020 with some great Stock markets have crashed, businesses have filed screening points were set up at all entrances of the
achievements, including historic production and shipment bankruptcy and countries in emerging economies are company as a strict measure of safety implementing
levels in hosiery, commencement of production at our most struggling to provide for the underprivileged. In the face of • Interloop closed its Hosiery, Spinning, Dyeing, Denim,
modern denim apparel manufacturing plant and scaling up this evolving global meltdown, organizations needed to Knitwear, and Active Wear Plants and Corporate Offices
plans for the knitwear apparel & seamless active wear respond quickly to help protect their workers and their following the lockdown directives of the government
manufacturing pilot plants, positioning Interloop as a plants, went for a complete lockdown later as per bottom lines. • Online and Digital tools, constant updates and Work
multi-category multi-country partner of choice for our instructions from the government and are now operating From Home protocols were put in place by the MIS team
customers. However, like all other enterprises of the world, partially at selected facilities. Concurrently, we are in With the ever-evolving yet fluid situation, Interloop took so that the executive staff could work effectively from the
we are also experiencing unprecedented circumstances regular contact with our customers, apprising them of the immediate actions to keep its people safe & healthy during safety of their homes. All staff was advised to follow the
and I want to thank all of you for your commitment to the on-going situation and providing them best possible this global crisis by assessing organizational exposure, safety and social distancing guidelines communicated by
continuity of our business. support required. We are prepared to take swift decisions positioning itself to appropriately support key stakeholders, the company
to deal with any and all eventualities as the situation including employees and customers. • A complete SOP was put in place and all preventive
Our priority has always been the safety of our people. unfolds. hygiene measures are being exercised on partial
Interloop, pledging to its mission, remained committed to Interloop worked on a 3 pronged approach to combat resumption of operations. Same will be followed on
safeguarding the interest and wellbeing of our employees, Our business is in a strong position and we have sturdy COVID-19 at its end: recommencement of full operations
who are our most important stakeholders. During the last strategies in place to deal with this incredible challenge.
few weeks, we have worked tirelessly to transform our We work with some of the world’s leading brands and Awareness: Educate the People Community Initiatives
business practices, ensuring enhanced health & safety retailers and enjoy great relationship with them. They are • At all Interloop manufacturing plants and offices, • Fulfilling our social responsibility, Interloop has
focused conducive environment and applications, for our collaborating with us in this crisis as they value Interloop as awareness sessions were conducted, standees & earmarked PKR 60 million to support the communities
employees, whether they work from home or at our a responsible partner of choice. I would like to assure you posters were displayed, online communications were and will further enhance the contribution as per the
functional manufacturing facilities. Understanding the of Interloop’s unwavering commitment to all its sent to all staff, and regular announcements were made growing requirement
impact of COVID-19 pandemic, our HR & MIS teams have stakeholders. through the Public Address System, by HR & EHS • To ensure that our frontline doctors & medical staff were
fully concentrated on educating our employees by teams, creating understanding about COVID-19 and its properly equipped and protected, Interloop has provided
providing training, support and resources that ensure a No big crisis is an isolated, neatly contained incident, and prevention 100,000 masks to National Disaster Management
successful transition. Detailed instructions on various the COVID-19 outbreak is exceptional by any worldly • Interloop, as the immediate step, assured that all Authority, and PPEs & Equipment to various hospitals in
measures including awareness campaigns about disease standards. It has appeared with extremely high level of hygiene procedures & protective protocols, advised by Faisalabad and Lahore
& prevention, symptoms screenings, social distancing uncertainty and it’s a situation well beyond the experience the government, were adopted and followed throughout • We have partnered with Nestle Pakistan and Interloop
efforts and working from home options were cascaded of most of us. While we are trying to navigate through this the company, diligently Welfare Trust has donated 50,000 liters of milk for the
down in time and at regular intervals through SOPs & crisis, we need to act smartly with resolve, resilience, people in need
multiple communications. return, re-imagination, and reform. I have full faith that we Communication: Inform the People • To help the underprivileged who are unable to earn their
are up to the challenge and with the grace of God Almighty • For the safekeeping of our people, a complete guideline livelihood due to lockdown, Interloop has provided food
Whether it's our internal or external community, Interloop and by working together, sharing, and supporting one on travel advisory was implemented within the company hampers to 15,000 deserving families in Faisalabad and
has always stood by its people in the hour of need and this another, we will come through this as a stronger and more • Precise quarantine instructions were provided to Kasur districts.
time is no different. We earmarked PKR 60 million to united team. employees & their families keeping in mind their health &
support the communities and provided food hampers to safety during the crisis Interloop intends to take further measures as the situation
15,000 deserving families, 100,000 masks to National My prayers and best wishes for you and your families! • An extraordinary leave policy was approved for the unfolds in the coming days to manage Peoples’ Wellbeing.
Disaster Management Authority, and PPEs & Equipment employees Our business is in a strong position and we have durable
for the front line doctors & medical staff at various hospitals • In case of virus symptoms detected in any employee, strategies in place to deal with this incredible challenge.
of Faisalabad, Lahore, Gujrat & Kasur. We also partnered company-paid testing facility was offered for quarantined We employ around twenty three thousand people and
with Nestle Pakistan and Interloop Welfare Trust donated Navid Fazil employees protecting their livelihood is one of our foremost priorities.
50,000 liters of milk for the people in need. The Chief Executive Officer • For any medical emergency, on-site doctor was available We believe that to be effective, public health measures
contributions are continuing and we will keep on providing at every plant and his/her contact detail was recirculated must be implemented with full engagement of all members
complete support to our people. among employees through email of the society, and should be accompanied with clear and
• A regular communication flow was maintained from the fair communication to enable people to make informed
Business decisions including re-strategizing, cost control CEO to the employees regarding the developing decisions to protect themselves and help achieve the
and consolidation of production ensured that we remain in situation and taking self-care measures for people’s public health goal of controlling this outbreak.
a strong position to deal with this challenge. To keep safety
supporting our customers in these circumstances, we • A cross-functional COVID-19 response team was formed With the blessing of God Almighty, responsible and bold
optimized production by initially scaling it down at some and a dedicated helpline was set-up to address any decisions of Interloop management and dedication of
issues faced by the employees Interloop’s People, We will Face it Together!

04 05