Internal Social Responsibility

Family well-being

The individual and family well-being of employees is especially important to the Group. We invested 20.1 million euros in this area in 2021.

1. Social Emergency Fund
   Since 2011 the Social Emergency Fund has helped employees facing financial difficulties or at family or social risk. Social workers ensure the assistance we provide to our employees and their families. In 2021, aid was provided to 1,586 employees, bringing the total number of employees supported since the establishment of this fund to 4,852.
2. You Can Count on Biedronka
   Launched in 2004, the Możesz Liczyć na Biedronkę (You Can Count on Biedronka) programme provides financial support to current and former employees facing difficulties. In 2021, more than 4,700 loans were granted under this programme, corresponding to an investment of 1.4 million euros. Nearly 68,000 employees also received pre-paid cards to be used in Biedronka or Hebe stores (an investment of 2.8 million euros). Approximately 18 million euros have already been invested since the programme was launched.
3. Biedronka Seniors
   Retired Biedronka employees receive support in the form of pre-paid shopping cards, under the Na Biedronka dla Seniora (Biedronka Seniors) programme, in place since 2016. This initiative provides financial support to retirees who, because they are no longer working, have had a significant reduction in their income. Since this programme was launched in 2015, more than 50,000 euros have been invested, and 215 beneficiaries supported.
4.  Fiado
   Launched in 2021, the Fiado programme gives Ara employees access to credit to buy essential goods in stores, which is then deducted from their monthly salary. In 2021, 4,903 employees made use of this programme. The Company also has the Fundo del Emplado (Employee Fund), an independent body that, among other purposes, supports the needs of employees and their families.
5.  Support to the families of deceased employees
   Biedronka offers a lump-sum payment to improve the comfort and security of families with children up to 18 years of age whose parents (employees) died. Seventeen children received aid in 2021, corresponding to an investment of 75,000 euros.

Health

In 2021, 1.7 million euros were channelled to the health support programmes for employees and families.

Education

In 2021, we invested 3.8 million euros in this area, three times more than the previous year’s.

1.  Holiday Camps
   Holiday camps in Portugal were reinstated in 2021 after being suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This programme was created out of the need to respond to employees’ concerns, who, in these periods, found it difficult to ensure care and occupational activities for their children. Between 2010, when the programme was created, and 2021, more than 13,000 places have been opened. Two programmes have been implemented in Poland. The first, “Wakacje z Biedronką” (Holidays with Biedronka), focuses on developing children’s creativity between the ages of 8 and 13, with an investment of 4.7 million and more than 11,000 openings created since 2005, the year it was launched. The second is Hello Biedronka, aimed at teaching English to young people between 14 and 17, with more than 880 places and an investment of 418,000 euros since 2015, the year it was implemented.
2.  Scholarships and Tutoring
   In Portugal, the Online Study Hall was used by 426 children in 2021 and scholarships were awarded to 28 employees and 67 children of employees (an investment of 175,000 euros). This project is designed for those who do not have the financial means but wish to enrol or re-enrol in higher education.
3.  School Supplies
   One of the initiatives since the beginning of the pandemic is the acquisition of equipment (computers and tablets) so that the children of employees in Portugal and Poland can attend classes online. In two years (2020 and 2021), 4,500 devices were acquired. The Group provides vouchers for purchasing school supplies by Portuguese parents and offers school kits to its employees’ children in Portugal and Poland.