Hindustan Zinc : announces inclusive policy for higher education of transgender employees

• The new policy provides financial support to transgender employees for any kind of educational course for skill enhancement and capacity building as part of its existing comprehensive set of inclusive policies
• Hindustan Zinc is among the few Metals & Mining firms that employ transgender employees in mainstream roles

Udaipur, 1 July 2024: Hindustan Zinc Limited, India's largest and the world's second-largest zinc producer, has announced an inclusive and progressive people policy to provide financial support to transgender employees for their education. Recognizing the barriers to their education, the company has announced financial support of up to INR 1 lakh for professional education of transgender employees who have been with the company for atleast 18 months. The announcement came at the culmination of the company's Pride Month celebrations.

The policy is a one-time benefit applicable to transgender employees and also extends to the business partners across all its operational locations. This is in line with Hindustan Zinc's commitment to constantly present avenues for professional development to its people, ensuring every individual has the opportunity to develop market-relevant skill sets.

The policy was launched on Hindustan Zinc's homegrown #Zinclusion platform at the conclusion of Pride Month celebrations. It featured a panel discussion on 'Challenging Barriers, Fostering Inclusivity,' led by Chairperson Priya Agarwal Hebbar, CEO Arun Misra, and Zainab Patel, DEIB Leader at a heavy engineering conglomerate. The session also saw parents of transgender employees sharing their pride at seeing their children thrive at Hindustan Zinc. In a traditionally male-dominated metals and mining sector, Hindustan Zinc employs sixteen transgender employees across its business units, offering significant representation in mainstream roles like finance, supply chain, marketing, medical, and other departments.

Hindustan Zinc's robust Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) framework encompasses a comprehensive set of policies and programs designed to provide all employees rich job content and fostering a truly inclusive work environment. It incorporates a widespread suite of supportive workplace policies, such as Gender Reaffirmation Leaves and Compensation Policy for employees considering gender reassignment surgery, Parenthood Policy for LGBTQIA+ individuals legally adopting a child, and Housing Policy for employees from the transgender community. These policies significantly bolster the company's extensive D&I efforts, making them one of the foremost in the country. Furthermore, the company is dedicated to creating an inclusive workplace by conducting sensitization workshops for its employees as well as the wider community.

Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Chairperson of Hindustan Zinc and Director of Vedanta Limited, expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, "At Vedanta, we are dedicated to cultivating a culture that celebrates diversity and ensures equal opportunities for all. It gives me immense joy to announce our financial support policy for higher education, which reflects our commitment to empowering our transgender employees. By investing in their professional growth, we aim to create an environment that is equal, and champions the well-being & personal development of each and every employee."

Sharing her experience, Ragini, a transgender professional working as a Lab Technician at the world's largest zinc-lead smelter at Chanderiya, Rajasthan, said, "I am grateful for this opportunity at Hindustan Zinc, where the team makes me feel like part of a big family, free of discrimination and biases. The upskilling and training provided to me here are tremendous, aiding both professional development and personal growth. Through these initiatives, Hindustan Zinc is helping bring the marginalized trans community into the mainstream and providing a supportive environment to nurture our full potential so we can live with dignity." Sharing his experience, Yashwardhan, another transgender professional working in the marketing department, said, "I am humbled by the support provided by my colleagues, who are helping me realize my true potential at every step. The workplace environment is extremely supportive, the work is exciting and plays a crucial role in enhancing my skillset."

Since 2022, the company has been expanding its recruitment efforts to actively include members of the transgender community, who face challenges in securing sustainable livelihoods for a life of dignity. With this initiative, the company aims to create a paradigm shift towards acceptance and inclusivity in the manufacturing industry, for multi-dimensional thinking and well-rounded decision-making. Hindustan Zinc aims to achieve 30% diversity in the workforce by 2025 as per its Sustainable Development Goals and currently has a gender diversity ratio of almost 22% in the executive workforce, amongst the highest in the world in the metals & mining sector.

Hindustan Zinc Limited (BSE: HINDZINC and NSE: HINDZINC), a Vedanta Group company, is the world's second-largest zinc producer and the third-largest silver producer. The company supplies to over 40 countries and holds a market share of about 75% of the primary zinc market in India. Hindustan Zinc has been recognized as the world's most sustainable company in the metals and mining category by the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023, reflecting its operational excellence, innovation, and leading ESG practices. Hindustan Zinc is also a certified 2.41 times Water-Positive company and is committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050 or sooner. Transforming the lives of nearly 2 million people through its focused social welfare initiatives, it is among the Top 10 CSR companies in India. As a world leader in the metals and mining industry, Hindustan Zinc is pivotal in providing critical metals essential for the global energy transition for a sustainable future.

#diversity&inclusion #metals #peoplepractices #dei #d&I #transgenderhiring

Hindustan Zinc, a Vedanta Group company in Zinc-Lead and Silver business is world's 2^nd largest integrated Zinc producer and now the 3^rd largest Silver producer. The company has a market share of ~75% of the growing Zinc market in India with its headquarters at Zinc City, Udaipur along with Zinc-Lead mines and smelting complexes spread across the state of Rajasthan.

Hindustan Zinc is self-sufficient in power with captive thermal power plants and has ventured into green energy by setting-up wind power plants. The company ranked first in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment in 2023 amongst Metals & Mining companies reflecting & reaffirming its constant commitment towards sustainable and responsible mining practices. Hindustan Zinc is a certified Water Positive company and is the only Indian company to be recognized at the S&P Global Platts Metal Award 2022 winning two prestigious awards for 'Industry Leadership Award - Base, Precious & Specialty Metals' Award and 'Corporate Social Responsibility' Award. Hindustan Zinc is also the only Indian company in Mining sector with validated & approved SBTi targets in alignment with 1.5 °C target.

The company takes pride in having some of the best-in-class people practices and employee-centric initiatives, which have certified Hindustan Zinc as - 'Great Place to Work 2023', 'Company with Great Managers 2022' by People Business and the 'People-first HR Excellence Award'. Along with that, Hindustan Zinc has been recognized with the coveted CII HR Excellence Award, leading in HR innovation with a 600+score.

As a socially responsible corporate, Hindustan Zinc has been relentlessly working towards transforming lives of 1.9 million people in 3,685 villages in the states of Rajasthan and Uttarakhand with a spend base of INR 269.3 crores in FY24 for various community development initiatives and is amongst the Top 10 CSR Companies in India.

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