Corporate Social Investment

 

 

Corporate Governance

 

 

Uniclox Technologies fully supports the King II Report’s Code of Corporate Practices and Conduct and the Board of directors is committed to the principles of transparency, integrity and accountability. The Board and individual directors accept their duty and responsibility to ensure that the principles set out in the Code of Corporate Practices and Conduct as defined in the King II Report are observed, as far as is applicable and relevant to a private company.

 

The Board of directors

The Board of directors of Uniclox Technologies, chaired by Raymond Noppé, comprises six executive directors. The directors provide judgement on issues of strategy, performance, resources, transformation, diversity, employment equity and evaluation of performance and standards of conduct. Executive directors have service contracts and restraint agreements.

 

The Board meets regularly to initiate, evaluate and monitor business matters, which have an impact on the wellbeing of the Company and its stakeholders. These include setting Company strategy, determining policy and instituting control measures. The Board takes final responsibility for acquisitions and disposals and approves capital expenditure.

The Board gives strategic direction to the Company and ensures that succession is planned. The Board ensures that there is an appropriate balance of power and authority on the Board so that no one individual or block of individuals can dominate the Board’s decision-making process.

 

The Board has a comprehensive system of control ensuring that risks are mitigated and the Company’s objectives are attained. This control environment sets the tone of the Company and covers ethical values, management’s philosophy and the competence of employees.

 

The Board ensures that the Company complies with all relevant laws, regulations and codes of business practice and that it communicates with its relevant internal and external stakeholders openly, promptly and with substance prevailing over form.

 

The Board is supplied with full and timely information which enables them to discharge their responsibilities and have unrestricted access to all Company information, records, documents and property. Non-executive directors have access to management and may even meet separately with management, without the attendance of executive directors.

The Board defines levels of materiality, reserving specific power to itself and delegating other matters with the necessary written authority to management. These matters are monitored and evaluated on a regular basis. The Board identifies the key risk areas and key performance indicators for the Company. These are regularly updated and particular attention is given to technology and systems. Directors, both executive and non-executive, are appointed for their skill and experience. The appointment of new directors requires the unanimous approval of the Board.

 

The daily management of the Company’s affairs is delegated to the managing director, who co-ordinates the implementation of Board policy.

 

Accountability and audit

Going concern

The annual financial statements are prepared on the going concern basis in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards. The appropriate principal accounting policies are consistently applied.

 

The Board minutes the facts and assumptions used in the assessment of the going concern status of the Company at the financial year-end.

 

Auditing and accounting

The Board is of the opinion that their auditors observe the highest level of business and professional ethics and that their independence is not in any way impaired. The auditors have the right of access to all information or personnel within the Company on any matter necessary to fulfil their duties.

 

Internal audit

Due to the size and structure of the Company, the Company does not have an internal audit department.

 

Internal control

The Company maintains systems of internal control, which includes financial, operational and compliance controls. These controls are established to provide reasonable assurance of the effective and efficient operation of the Company and its compliance with all relevant laws and regulations, as well as to the reliability of the annual financial reporting and to adequately safeguard, verify and maintain accountability for assets. The controls are reviewed and monitored regularly throughout the Company by the Board and management.

 

The Board of directors is accountable for establishing appropriate risk and control policies and is responsible for monitoring, reviewing and communicating these controls and policies through the organisation. Corrective actions are taken to address control deficiencies and other opportunities for improving the systems, as they are identified. The Board provides oversight of the financial reporting process.

 

Risk management

The Board is responsible for the total process of risk management, as well as forming its own opinion on the effectiveness of the process, and sets the risk strategy, which is based on the need to identify, assess, manage and monitor all known forms of risk across the Company, in liaison with the executive directors and senior management. These policies are clearly communicated to all employees to ensure that the risk strategy is incorporated into the language and culture of the Company.

 

The Board decides the Company’s appetite or tolerance for risk and has the responsibility to ensure that the Company has implemented an effective ongoing process to identify risk, to measure its impact against a broad set of assumptions and then to activate what is necessary to proactively manage these risks. Risk management and internal control are practised throughout the Company and are embedded in day-to-day activities.

 

Risk is not only viewed from a negative perspective. The review process also identifies areas of opportunity, such as where effective risk management can be turned to competitive advantage.

 

Pure risks are identified and risk awareness is promoted at all business units and at the head office. The Company insures against losses arising from catastrophic events, which include fire, flood, explosion, earthquake and machinery breakdown, as well as business interruption from these events. The Company renews its insurance policies annually.

 

 

Sustainability report

 

Processes are implemented to assess, measure and manage the effectiveness and relevance of the Company’s sustainability strategy. The Company has embraced the philosophy that its on-going growth and development depend not only on economic factors, but on the wellbeing and upliftment of its people, the improvement of surrounding communities and its ongoing investment in corporate, social and environmental sustainability initiatives.

 

Vision

Uniclox Technologies’ vision is to honour our customers with quality service and care to achieve total customer satisfaction and be a world-class technologically advanced enterprise offering field-proven quality and robust hardware products supported by state-of-the-art software integration.

 

Mission

Uniclox Technologies’ mission is to:

 

• ensure the successful and profitable operation of our customers’ companies through efficient and quality systems;
• establish our leadership in data collection systems, by delivering high quality and cost effective solutions that exceed the expectations of our customers;
• achieve a high level of excellence in both our product offerings and in effective system integration for the collection and processing of data in order to provide the tools to substantially improve productivity in the workplace;
• offer accurate information integration which results in cost-savings for our customers, with the resultant effect of increasing our customers’ profitability.

 

Core values

• Our top priority is to listen to our customers and to determine and exceed their needs and expectations.
• We are committed to render a service which is characterised by friendliness, helpfulness, competence, quick reaction and feedback.
• Our business practices follow the highest moral standards and norms with due regard to our code of ethics as well as those of our customers.
• We conduct our business with integrity, honesty, reliability, transparency and fairness.
• We subscribe to sustained quality improvement, customer satisfaction and the highest product and service standards by being competitive and highly productive with innovative thinking and action.
• We strive to attain unity and strength, which is the essence of dynamic teamwork and a shared vision.
• The success of our team is attributable to mutual respect and trust, commitment to a common goal, transparent communication and shared information, participative decision making, skilled and motivated personnel and recognition for performance and creativity.
• We aim to establish and maintain long-term relationships with our customers, suppliers, distributors, financiers and all our other business associates and stakeholders.

 

Social impact

Uniclox Technologies complies with all requirements of the Labour Relations Act and the Employment Equity Act. Concerted efforts are made to appoint historically disadvantaged individuals. Ongoing internal training programmes assist in developing potential and providing new skills.

 

Health and safety

Policy, strategy, procedures and infrastructure are in place to cater for all environmental and occupational health and safety issues. Considerable emphasis is placed on preventing workplace accidents and fatalities. Regular Safety Committee meetings and risk assessments ensure ongoing compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

 

HIV/AIDS

While conscious of the serious impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, Uniclox Technologies is also aware of the threat of other diseases which could cause significant risk and does not limit its efforts to managing HIV/AIDS. Healthcare promotion does not concentrate purely on HIV/AIDS, but addresses other infectious and lifestyle diseases as well.

 

Training and education

Training and education are conducted both internally and externally and customers participate in the Uniclox Technologies University’s training programmes to ensure that they stay abreast of the latest technology and trends.

 

Diversity and opportunity

Diversity in the workplace is encouraged by targeted employment practices and internal development opportunities are provided for identified employees.

 

Human rights

As a responsible corporate citizen and employer, Uniclox Technologies fulfils all the requirements of the various acts, rules and regulations governing labour, including the Constitution, the Labour Relations Act, the Employment Equity Act, the Skills Development Act and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.

 

Consequently:

 

• a programme is in place to educate employees about their human rights;
• forced labour is not practised;
• child labour is not practised;
• the working environment and working conditions are safe and healthy;
• freedom of association is respected; and
• the guidelines of the International Labour Organisation are complied with.

The Company will not hesitate to terminate agreements and relationships with contractors or suppliers who act in contravention of international human rights standards.

 

Non-discrimination

The Company adheres to a policy of non-discrimination, excepting only specific strategies which are developed to address stated Company objectives.

 

Disciplinary practices

Codes of best practice have been integrated into the well-established disciplinary procedures in compliance with all applicable acts and regulations.

 

Security practices

Ongoing security audits ensure compliance with all security practices throughout the Company to protect the lives and wellbeing of employees and the integrity of Company assets.

 

Society

Community

Uniclox Technologies considers the communities in which it operates as important and valuable roleplayers who contribute to the growth and success of the organisation.

 

Bribery and corruption

Uniclox Technologies is implacably opposed to bribery and corruption. Employees are discouraged from accepting any gifts or favours from suppliers that obligate them in any way to reciprocate. The Company complies with all the requirements of the Anti-Fraud and Corruption Act and the Protected Disclosures Act.

 

Political contributions

The Company does not contribute to any political parties.

 

Competition and pricing

Uniclox Technologies supports and encourages free external and internal competition in the Company.

 

Socio-economic empowerment

Procurement

Procurement is evaluated in a socially responsible manner and embraces assessment of suppliers who are not involved in non-discriminatory spend. Black-empowered organisations provide a percentage of the Company’s requirements and relationships with organisations owned or partially managed by historically disadvantaged individuals are pursued. Identified suppliers are supported with targeted orders and technical assistance to promote their growth.

 

Black Economic Empowerment

For black economic empowerment to be sustainable it must be broad-based. The Company adopts a holistic approach to empowerment addressing skills development, employment equity, promotion in the workplace, procurement practices which support developing businesses and suppliers, enterprise creation and equity ownership in the Company.

 

The Company currently has a BEE rating of 50,81%.

 

Human resource development and Employment Equity

Employment Equity

The Company is committed to the ongoing development of all employees, providing equal opportunities and promoting education and training programmes. The necessary reports are regularly filed with the Department of Labour.

 

Recruitment

Applying a policy of non-discriminatory recruitment, Uniclox Technologies recruits residents from local communities, unless specific skills are not available.

 

Skills development

Workplace skills plans and progress reports are channelled through Head Office.

 

Performance management is used not only to reward and recognise, but also to identify talent. Skills retention is boosted by promoting from within the Company, study assistance, significant investment in training and development and meaningful recognition and reward programmes.

 

Environment

The Company’s activities do not pose any material risks to the environment.