Article (1) Objectives
The purpose of approving and notifying this " Document" is to ensure that the Bank's policies and clear procedures, concerning adoption of social responsibility on the issues related to stakeholders, society and the environment, exist and are in place.
Article (2) Scope
All Bank's managements, units, branches and the bank's affiliated companies, in its group structure, fall within the scope of this Document.
Article (3) Domain of Application
The general framework of the Bank's policies, regarding awareness of the importance of, and its constructive role in, the social issues and fulfilling its related obligations and carrying out its operations in accordance with the principles and values accepted by the Bank, have been set out in this Document.
Article (4) General Principles
The Middle East Bank, aware of the importance of social responsibility and of fulfilling its related obligations, remains committed to the following issues and aligns its operations with the contents set out in this Charter.
4-1. Development and progress of the country
Plans and directs all its operations, services and efforts, at any time, towards development and progress of the country.
4-2. Media relations
Establishes relations with the mass media in a professional and transparent manner.
4-3. Donations
Considers transparent well-intended donations to valid charities, organizations, educational, cultural and sports institutions, as its social commitments, and supports/sponsors the groups which act in line with the public good, not for the interest of specific persons or groups.
Article (5) Responsibility Areas towards Stakeholders
The Middle East bank's approach towards social responsibility was set to meet the interests of the main stakeholders; it is committed to comply with legal requirements and business ethics, and actively accepts responsibilities of its operations, as follows:
5-1. Responsibilities towards employees
5-1-1. Observing the principles and basic rights related to the operations and doing the job
5-1-2. Abiding by the relevant laws and regulations and codes of ethics when recruiting employees and in the employment relations
5-1-3. Ensuring full observance of the Labor Act and regulations on remunerations and coordinated payment system
5-1-4. Creating a fair and just working atmosphere and providing social protection and safe and healthy environment in the workplace
5-1-5. Providing equal and just opportunities for organizational recruitment and promotion based on the relevant laws and regulations, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, language, religion and other personal characteristics
5-1-6. Removing barriers against fulfillment of legal requirements inside the organization and obeying the law in practice
5-1-7. No discrimination of any kind, in recruitment process
5-1-8- Respecting privacy of the personnel and protecting their personal information
5-1-9. Holding training courses on the concepts related to corporate social responsibility
5-1-10. Detecting and overcoming the obstacles, barriers and problems related to safety in the work place
5-1-11. Setting up the mechanisms and procedures to facilitate reporting on any type of fraud with regard to Bank's policies, financial or administrative corruption and abuse of power, without any fear of personal/ organizational revenge or worry to get fired
5-1-12. Enhancing sense of responsibility of the personnel about occurrence of bribery or financial or administrative corruption, through training, informing and incentive policies
5-1-13. Promoting workplace ethics and professional code of conducts and enhancing the organizational culture to comply with the laws and regulations among all employees
5-2. Responsibilities towards shareholders
5-2-1. Respecting ownership rights
5-2-2. Clear and transparent communication/dissemination of information
5-2-3. Accountability and provision of necessary information according to legal requirements
5-3. Responsibilities towards customers
5-3-1. Creating appropriate and safe environment for the customers
5-3-2. Offering quality services and treating the customers with respect and dignity
5-3-3. Protecting customers' information and privacy
5-3-4. Providing, and receiving, true and unbiased information without intention to derive personal benefits,
5-3-5. Making transparent and clear the mechanism for compensating the harms inflicted on stakeholders and customers
5-3-6. Creating a complaint management system to examine and respond to the customers' grievances
5-3-7. To guarantee access to necessary services and training and disseminating the information
5-3-8. Protecting intellectual/ intangible and tangible property rights
5-3-9. Adherence to and following the terms of contracts and refraining from inserting unilateral rights or powers or unfair clauses when drawing up contracts with customers
5-3-10. Fostering dispute settlement mechanisms through arbitration and intermediary institutions (ADS)
5-3-11. ensuring that the services offered are according to, and satisfying, the various needs of the customers; and respecting different requirements and tastes
5-4. Responsibility towards competitors
5-4-1. Respect, healthy competition and fairness in all aspects
5-4-2. Protecting privacy and confidentiality
5-4-3. Attempting to enhance social responsibility in the value chain
5-4-4. Defending the mechanisms for fair competition, anti-monopoly, anti-dumping mechanism, and free access to information
5-5. Responsibility towards community
5-5-1. Careful examination of the Bank's procedures in order to control/check operations while avoiding to threat the people's rights
5-5-2. Setting up the control and oversight system in order to prevent occurrence or partnership in crime
5-5-3. Preventing discrimination and protecting the rights of vulnerable groups
5-5-4. Observing the political and civil rights of people
5-5-5. Observing the economic, social and cultural rights of people
5-5-6. Giving priority to the public welfare and majority members of society, when allocating financial resources
5-5-7. Ensuring the transparency and accurate and exact disclosure of information in accordance with relevant laws and regulations
5-5-8. Disagreeing with discrimination in free access to information and fully obeying the related laws
5-5-9. Detecting possible corruption cases and adopting and enhancing the policies to confront its occurrence
5-5-10. Taking in to consideration protective (subsidized) fees for poor persons and families, when setting the rates and fees
5-5-11. Supporting the professional institutions, as national assets, when economic and social crises happen
5-5-12. Assisting expansion and development of education, culture, job creation and skills development
5-5-13. Taking in to consideration the balanced and appropriate development of technology and access to it across the society
5-5-14. Helping the victims of natural disasters and catastrophes
5-5-15. Participating in building schools and equipping classes and libraries in deprived or less-developed areas
5-5-16. Donating equipment to universities and scientific centers
5-5-17. Extending facilities for building and equipping medical and health centers
5-5-18. Supporting cultural and sports activities and events
5-5-19. Providing supportive funds for health expenses
5-5-20. Sponsoring master-degree PhD. dissertations and thesis on the intended subjects of the Bank
5-5-21. Giving scholarships and sponsoring the brilliant university and high school students
5-5-22. Giving priority to the local suppliers, producers and manufacturers of goods and services
5-5-23. Giving priority to learning skills by, and empowering of, local community, particularly the women
5-5-24. Protecting and safeguarding cultural and historic heritage and respecting local traditions and cultures
5-6. Responsibility toward the environment
5-6-1. Shoving respect to environmental criteria
5-6-2. Observing the natural resources control, preservation and protection standards and preventing pollution of the ecosystem
5-6-3. Seriousness in sustainable use of resources
5-6-4. Providing necessary facilities for the customers to use e-banking services
5-6-5. Taking necessary measures to reduce electricity, gas, water and paper consumption
5-6-6. Proper disposal of waste and garbage
5-6-7. Observing the sustainable life style and avoiding doing harm to the environment and harmonizing activities with the ecosystem
5-6-8. Evaluating the ecological impacts of activities and projects
5-6-9. Taking into account the environmental costs when doing the economic appraisal of the project
5-6-10. Voluntary compensation of possible damages to the environment when implementing the projects
5-6-11. Committed to preparing environmental sustainability statement in the concerned field of operations and evaluating it
5-6-12. Cooperation with NGOs that are active on the environmental issues
Article (6) Implementation
6-1. The Board of Directors ensures that the policies and clear procedures on adopting social responsibility in various fields of environment, hygiene, health and training, exist and are in place.
6-2. The Board of Directors, as part of its general duties and responsibilities, approved this Charter and supervises its proper implementation and good performance, through defined procedures.
6-3. The "Responsibility Committee", consisting of the managers of communication, procurement, human resources, branch's affairs, shares affairs and compliance departments, shall be responsible for the implementation of the contents of this charter. The Board of Directors will appoint one of the Board of Directors members as the chairman. The communication manager is tasked with following up the issues and reporting to the Responsibility Committee. The Responsibility Committee is required to report its performance to the Board of Directors every six months.
Article (7) Revision
The Compliance and AML management is tasked with and responsible for updating and revising this document. The modifications, if necessary, shall be confirmed by the Corporate Governance Committee and get the approval of the Board of Directors.