Beirut, 9 March 2020: Following its introduction in December 2019, Nestlé is rolling out the company’s new Global Parental Support Policy across the Middle East and North Africa. Under the new more inclusive and enhanced policy, parental leave for primary caregivers will be extended to 18 weeks of fully paid leave from 14 weeks previously. The policy also establishes a minimum of four weeks for secondary caregivers, for whom there was no global minimum before.
“The new policy is the latest step aimed at fostering diversity and inclusion at Nestlé,” said David Moloto, Nestlé Regional Human Resources Director Middle East and North Africa. “Supporting the healthy development of infants has been a core value of our company since our founding, and our new parental support policy is an important part of our efforts to provide children with the best start in life, by allowing parents to spend more time with their new child.”
The new policy sets new minimum standards but does not set limits. This means that in some countries, Nestlé may choose to offer more leave than the 18 weeks for primary caregivers and four weeks for secondary caregivers. The company applies the new policy while respecting local laws as a minimum standard. For example, Nestlé will provide longer parental leave if local laws require it.
In addition to the new arrangements, the flexible parental support policy reinforces employment protection, non-discrimination, health protection, the availability of flexible working options, as well as breastfeeding support.
Long-standing policies at Nestlé in the region already include flexible working arrangements and guaranteed access to breastfeeding rooms during working hours in all offices and sites, including factories, equipped to ensure the comfortable expressing of milk, storage, and hygiene.
Gender Balance at Nestlé, one of the key pillars in the company’s Diversity and Inclusion initiatives, shuns quotas in favor of a system that hones talents and creates favorable conditions to ensure all employees have equal opportunities to evolve their careers within the company.
The number of women in management atNestlé in the Middle East and North Africa has doubled to nearly 30% from 16% back in 2011, as the company continues to move forward with its commitment to Enhance Gender Balance at all its offices around the region, through annual increases in the percentage of women managers and senior leaders.
About Nestlé in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Nestlé’s heritage in the Middle East and North Africa goes back over 100 years with the sale of the first Infant Cereals in Egypt. Today, Nestlé operates 25 Food & Beverage factories across the 19 countries of the MENA Region, and provides direct employment to more than 15,000 people who are all committed to Nestlé’s purpose of Enhancing Quality of Life and Contributing to a Healthier Future. Nestlé MENA also provides indirect employment across the region to several thousand more.
The Nestlé portfolio in the region currently exceeds 60 innovative product brands in a wide range of categories: Dairy, Infant Nutrition, Coffee and Creamers, Confectionery, Bottled Water, Breakfast Cereals, Culinary products, Health Science, and Pet Care, among others. Nestlé NIDO, Nestlé CERELAC, Nestlé NAN, S-26, PROGRESS, NESCAFÉ, NESPRESSO, Bonjorno Café, Coffee-mate, KitKat, MAGGI, Nestlé FITNESS, Nestlé Grain d’Or, Nestlé Pure Life, OPTIFAST, and PURINA Friskies are just some of the brands available in the Middle East and North Africa.