SA mine companies featured in Bloomberg GEI

INCLUSIVITY

GEI statistics show that index member companies are hiring more women than they are losing SA mine companies featured in Bloomberg GEI

In an altered, post-Covid-19 business environment, Bloomberg’s Gender-Equality Index (GEI) highlights practices and policies – including flexible work arrangements – that can create competitive advantages for companies.

Bloomberg announced that 380 companies headquartered across 44 countries and regions are included in the 2021 GEI. For the first time, firms domiciled in Indonesia and Bermuda are reporting gender-related data. The GEI brings transparency to gender-related practices and policies at publicly listed companies, increasing the breadth of environmental, social and governance (ESG) data available to investors. At a time when it is critical for firms to demonstrate their commitment to gender equality, the companies included in this year’s index are setting an example for more transparent reporting and disclosure of social data.

“As we continue to grapple with the pandemic, we’ve seen companies put increased emphasis on the ‘S’ in ESG,” said Peter Grauer, chairman of Bloomberg. “The companies included in this year’s GEI are committed to providing an inclusive work environment, supporting work-life balance and flexible work arrangements to retain a talented workforce, and create a competitive advantage in this changing business environment,” Grauer said.

Local mine operations featured in GEI

Several mine companies with operations in South Africa featured in the GEI. They include: • Anglo American Platinum • AngloGold Ashanti • Exxaro Resources • Gold Fields • Harmony Gold Mining • Impala Platinum • Sibanye Stillwater. Despite raising the threshold for inclusion in the 2021 index, a record number of companies disclosed their data, and the quality of disclosure continues to improve. This year, GEI companies had a 94% disclosure score on average. While the average disclosure score was high, the average data excellence score was 55%, making it evident there is still work that needs to be done. The data excellence score is broken down into scores across five pillars: female leadership and talent pipeline, equal pay and gender pay parity, inclusive culture, sexual harassment policies, and pro-women brand. Sibanye-Stillwater was included in this year’s index for scoring at or above a global threshold established by Bloomberg to reflect a high level of disclosure and overall performance across the framework’s five pillars. “We are delighted to once again be included in the Bloomberg GEI, as recognition of the conscious journey that the Sibanye-Stillwater Group has embarked on, to actively promote and create a more inclusive business environment,” said Neal Froneman, CEO, Sibanye-Stillwater.

Mxolisi Mgojo, CEO, Exxaro, said meeting South Africa’s transformation objectives through continuous investment in diversity and skills development is important for Exxaro. “The recognition of our gender equality efforts by being included in the Bloomberg GEI has reassured our diversity and inclusion and employment equity strategies in promoting transformation and empowering our employees,” he said.

Patricia Torres, global head: Sustainable Finance Solutions, Bloomberg, said that while businesses are looking to maintain strong corporate cultures in today’s virtual world, business leaders have the opportunity to drive progress on gender equality for years to come. “This progress can begin with the GEI framework, which helps companies assess where they are on the path to gender parity relative to their peers, and hold themselves accountable to their goals.”