We continued to attract, retain and engage talent of the highest quality, facilitating the achievement of business and organisational objectives on a sustained basis. Our human resource management systems and processes aim to create a responsive, stakeholder-centric and customer-focused culture that enhances organisational capability and vitality.

During 2006-07 our full time direct employees numbered over 21,000 of which nearly 2,100 employees in the Leaf Tobacco business were engaged on a seasonal basis due to the very nature of the Leaf business. Nearly 12,000 of the full time direct employees are members of various unions. During the reporting period, four units signed long-term agreements with the recognised unions across different businesses. Employees were aligned and involved in the implementation of significant investments in technology and process improvements aimed at enhancing productivity, quality and delivery effectiveness.

Company policies and individual contracts of employment apply to management, frontline supervisors and office assistants and the terms and conditions of their services are reviewed periodically.

Our commitment to pay employees a competitive remuneration is reflected in a 15% compounded annual growth rate in 'employee costs' in the last 3 years.