EFC showcases success stories

The Employers' Federation of Ceylon conducted a seminar on "Success stories of companies which faced the challenges of the global recession" recently, at the Galle Face Hotel.

This event was held in collaboration with the International Labour Office (ILO) which supports contemporary issues in Sri Lanka.

The seminar showcased success stories and strategies which they adopted to overcome the global recession which was 'an eye opener' to most of the organizations in Sri Lanka.

"We need to be proud of some of our enterprises which have demonstrated that they have the capacity and the competence to withstand the storms and sail the ship safely to the shore.

These are the companies which cultivated strategic resilience". Employers' Federation Director General Ravi Peiris said, highlighting the importance of adopting clever strategies to overcome the challenges.

The success stories of five companies were presented by Seylan Bank Chairman Eastman Narangoda, Mas Intimates Managing Director Dian Gomes, Odel Chief Financial Officer Nishan Fernando, Loadstar Executive Director HR Rohan Dias, Director HR Samitha Perera and Ceylon Tobacco Supply Chain/HR Manager, Samanmali Chandrasiri.

MAS Holdings presented how proactive measures were taken to overcome the difficulties.

"We saw it coming .... It was all about managing people and the emotional bonding with people mattered a lot in tough times and they would be with the organization", Dian Gomes said. He emphasized the need to 'walk the talk' by the CEO and 'making everyone a hero with a 'can do' attitude.

Odel conquered the challenge with the understanding of the business and the customer with the right marketing mix. Odel identified 'retail as a therapy' and that the workforce should be motivated to build the atmosphere pleasant and therapeutic. Stringent financial controls and direct communication by the CEO was imperative.

Ceylon Tobacco had adopted a different approach from many other organizations. Instead of restrictions on employees' benefits; they were empowered and engaged to come up with innovative ideas to manage cost and thus led to 1 bn savings. CTC with the toughest labour market regulations, succeeded with the 'right balance of rationality' and effective employee communication made a head start for CTC during the recession.

'Recession is a blessing in disguise and was an eye opener', Loadstar Director Rohan Dias said. VRS, changes in the production schedules, supplier negotiation were some of the strategies adopted by Loadstar during the crisis and which they thrived on.

Seylan Bank Chairman, Eastman Narangoda firmly believed that organizations should be 'master of change than victim of change' during the recession. Seylan Bank managed the recession without retrenchment.

A proper gap analysis was geared for the strategic planning process by the Seylan Bank senior management to overcome the challenges.

Emphasis was given to the global responses to the financial crisis from an employers' perspective initiated by various countries such as the Netherlands, Chile, Singapore, Ireland and Australia by EFCs Senior Industrial Relations Advisor Thamali Senanayake.

Key learnings were considered as a clear focus on the customer and the employees, the need to 'walk the talk' by the senior management, constant direct communication with the employees by the CEO, employee engagement and empowerment in finding solutions and ground-breaking ideas and reorganization of work in a more effective and efficient manner.

The stories behind the success stories were very well received by the participants with much appreciation. Looking beyond the problems, the global recession had been an eye opener to the companies to be focused and implement change without fear, before the reason for change became desperately obvious.