Brandix Apparel Group Head of Corporate Social Responsibility Malika Samaraweera

Brandix Apparel Group Head of Corporate Social Responsibility Malika Samaraweera discusses the impacts of internal and external community engagement by Sri Lanka’s premier apparel solutions provider. 

Brandix has a significant manufacturing footprint around the island and offers livelihoods to thousands of Sri Lankans but how does it serve the wider community? 

Since its inception, Brandix has engaged closely with the communities in which it operates, to better understand their needs and provide purposeful interventions. Initially when conducting research, we realised that most of our associates didn’t have access to clean drinking water in their homes. This led us to focus on providing clean drinking water to all our associates and their families.
Having achieved this, Brandix then expanded the initiative to the wider community and now every vital public facility around our manufacturing locations such as schools, hospitals and other institutions have access to clean drinking water and sanitation. We have enriched the lives of over 300,000 Sri Lankans with the provision of clean drinking water, leading to enhanced health, work and living standards. 

Do employees enjoy similar benefits or opportunities within the company or is this simply a community focus?

At Brandix, we believe in caring for all our employees. This inspires all of us to collectively care for our communities. Our focus falls first on the Brandix family and then externally. All our associates receive free meals, transportation and health facilities at a minimum. 
Additionally, we have a dedicated unit to cater to the mental wellbeing and social resilience of workers and Brandix is probably the only company in the region that has a fully-fledged counselling programme. 
We also offer our female employees the Personal Advancement and Career Enhancement (PACE) learning programme, which began in 2012, in partnership with our customers.

 
Do employees get the opportunity to participate in empowering the country and community?

The Brandix culture of care extends to our employees, which then inspires action toward our communities. For example, the PACE programme is one significant initiative where we have provided our associates with the necessary professional skills, which they then share with their wider community. 
Further, we have created opportunities for our members to volunteer towards CSR efforts as CSR Champions, with clearly defined guidelines and a recognition process.

How are these efforts received by your customers around the world?

Governance, sustainability and responsibility are essential to reach a global audience, as all customers and consumers are cognisant and seek out suppliers who demonstrate values that are close to their hearts. Our commitment to the community and environment pervades every avenue of operations and extends to our supply chain too. 
We have the utmost care for all our employees and create a diverse, inclusive and equitable workforce. For example, we have several opportunities at Brandix for those who are differently abled. We also have zero-tolerance for child labour or any other forms of abuse. 
Some of the other manufacturing destinations that compete with Sri Lanka cannot claim to such values and standards. There are significant costs attached to such high levels of commitment and care but these are values that are part of the Brandix DNA and are therefore non-negotiable.

Are these efforts limited to your operations in Sri Lanka or what kind of initiatives are underway at Brandix facilities in other nations?

The Brandix family includes our teams at all locations and countries and our commitment and culture of care extends to each and every one of them, regardless of the country.