Unilever Bangladesh Limited (UBL) has pledged Taka 200 million to help the nation in its fight against COVID-19.
The commitment includes wide-ranging measures such as product donations, creating awareness, improving health infrastructure and protecting people and livelihoods of those who work across the value chain such as extended distribution and supply chain, said a UBL press release.
UBL has been donating hygiene and household products such as Lifebuoys soaps, Surf Excel, Wheel detergents and Domex cleaners in order to protect the communities.
So far, UBL has donated products worth Taka 10 million, and will continue its contribution by partnering several organisations in order to reach out to people who are in need.
The release said in January 2020, Lifebuoy became the first brand in Bangladesh to raise awareness on novel coronavirus and Unilever assigned Taka 50 million to create mass media content on prevention of the virus.
Besides, Unilever will also donate a sum of Taka 10 million to support and upgrade health care facilities.
UBL pledges to protect its value chain, consisting nearly 20,000 people from sudden drops in pay, as a result of market disruption or being unable to perform their role, for up to three months.
UBL is collaborating with organisations such as BRAC, WaterAid, Unicef, Ek Takay Ahar to create awareness among the most-vulnerable people in far-flung areas and help them stay safe during this pandemic, and it has already spent Taka 10 million in these efforts.
To stand by this effort, UBL employees have committed to give minimum one day of their salary, and company is matching the contribution equally to create a fund for people in need.
UBL CEO and Managing Director Kedar Lele said, “It is our responsibility to reach out to as many people as possible and help them in their fight against the virus.”
“Considering the scale of the challenge and in order to address it at multiple levels, we are collaborating with the government, health institutions, implementation partners and civil society,” he added.
