Bangkok--24 Nov--Siemens
With an estimated 3.1 million people affected and a quarter of Thailand’s 77 provinces underwater, Siemens is responding to the flood crisis today with a campaign to lend aid to its affected employees in Thailand. The ‘Siemens Peers-for-Peers’ program carried out for the first time the ASEAN-Pacific Cluster is an opportunity for Siemens employees to support their colleagues who have been hit by the unprecedented floods in Thailand. This comes on the heel of two financial aid schemes launched by the company last month for affected employees.
Currently, the homes of more than 100 employees at Siemens Thailand are either damaged by the floodwater or submerged. Sewerage problems, food and water shortages as well as water borne diseases remain a huge problem, raising concerns over relief efforts and supply of resources.
The ‘Siemens Peers-for-Peers’ donation campaign will lobby for cash donations from Siemens’ regional network of offices in the ASEAN, Pacific countries and South Korea, which has 18,000 employees. Staff will also be provided with regular news updates via an internal web portal, which features interviews, essential contact information, and details on the campaign.
Last month, Siemens Thailand provided post-flood assistance through two separate initiatives. The first is an immediate company grant of 10,000 Baht (S$420) to employees who have been impacted by the disaster, while the other is a Flood-Advance sum of 120,000 Baht (S$5,000), or an amount equal to three times their monthly salaries, for those who need a cash advance to tide them over this difficult period.
Siemens Thailand is also donating three sets of mobile water treatment units (SM1 Auto Ultra Filtration Membrane technology) to the Thailand Red Cross society to assist in the treatment of wastewater from the floods. The units are each fully equipped to treat approximately 25,000 litres per day.
Mr Lothar Herrmann, CEO of Siemens ASEAN-Pacific Cluster, said: “This crisis has devastated many homes in Thailand and our hearts go out to all the flood victims and their families. We strongly believe in caring for our employees at Siemens. Therefore, through this ‘Peers-for-Peers’ campaign, we hope to provide fast and immediate relief by galvanising our Siemens network to lend a hand and help our fellow colleagues rebuild their lives and homes.”
“At the same time, we are committed to contributing to the communities in which we operate,” he added.
Siemens’ operations in Thailand have remained unaffected by the floods to date, and there are currently 1,200 employees working at Siemens Thailand.