This year, the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia (LDDK) determined the best employer in the region on the basis of the companies’ self-evaluations submitted to LDDK, in the jointly initiated “Sustainability Index” by the Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia (LBAS) and the Association of Public Relation Companies. Before submitting the self-evaluations, companies certified that they had no tax debts and that their employees were not receiving salaries “under the table”. LDDK presented Acknowledgement Certificates to the best employers in the regions for their first rate practice and results achieved in the “Sustainability Index” section “Working Environment”.

JSC Cēsu alus Chairman of the board Eva Sietiņsone–Zatlere: “Employees are one of the top values in our company; staff motivation and a stable and safe working environment are the priorities of Cēsu alus during economic prosperity, as well as during the difficulties we are currently experiencing. With the help of the operation efficiency project implemented in 2009, JSC Cēsu alus has managed to retain a steady number of employees and to maintain the reimbursement policy at the former level.”

Coordinator of the LDDK Social Dialogue in Vidzeme Jolanta Vjakse emphasises that it is important to approve and express gratitude to those employers who are not only successfully implementing their business goals, but who also bear responsibility for their employees and provide investments in regional development. “In many locations, the decrease of the costs and optimisation outgrows the planning of long-term operation and future perspectives. Mutual responsibility and communication between the employer and the employee is therefore important for both parties to benefit and to be able to overcome the difficulties they face. By awarding the best employees, we are willing to express our gratitude to them and demonstrate good example also to others.”

In 2010, 220 employees are working at JSC Cēsu alus, 84 % of whom are employed at the company plant in Cēsis and the Vidzeme region. As Cēsu alus is one of the most rapidly growing companies in the food and beverage sector in Latvia, the dynamics of the number of the employees and the turnover is comparatively intense. The fact that the relation between the qualified labour force and workers in the company is 4 %/60 % is significant, and makes Cēsu alus a perspective employer for a labour force with varying qualifications.

JSC Cēsu alus is the reputation leader and one of the largest tax payers in the Vidzeme region. This year the company was awarded the silver level “Sustainability Index” and has previously received awards of the Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia “Socially Responsible Company” and “Cooperation Partner”.