By Sia Sansie
A shiny business entity in Sierra Leone MR Distilleries been commended not only for producing quality and affordable products, but importantly for honouring its corporate social responsibility by giving back to the community it’s operating. Since establishment it has remained law abiding, paying taxes, paying NASSIT contribution for worker in addition to improving the general welfare of the workers.
Headquartered at the Industrial Estate in Wellington, east end part of Freetown, MR Distilleries has succeeded in winning the hearts and minds of Sierra Leoneans within the Wellington environs and the country as a whole.
It has in its employ over 150 Sierra Leoneans, a fulfillment of the country’s Local Content Policy regulation.
Community stakeholders have expressed appreciation to the company for its generosity that it has brought smiles to many homes for which they assured their support at all times.
MR Distilleries’ contributions to the socio-economic development of the community that it operates in and the nation at large are vividly visible. According to Parliamentary Oversight Committee that visited the facility in February this year, expressed satisfactions for its operations and asked the management to keep the good work.
After observing their work ethics and their working environment, the Committee unreservedly praised MR Distilleries for respecting and obeying the country’s labor laws in ensuring that their workers are all properly documented and well paid and work in a conducive environment.
They were also impressed by the company’s unbiased for female employment, maintaining proper sanitation in the factory and observing the Ministry of Health’s and its partners to preventing in its workplace the deadly COVID 19 disease that broke out in the country.
So impressed was the Committee Chairman, Hon. Veronica Sesay, who was part of that visit, but what she saw that makes her encouraging other investors to emulate MR Distilleries.
As a decent, law-abiding corporate organization, MR Distilleries continues to contribute to the socio-economic development of Sierra Leone.
As part of this responsibility over the years, MR Distilleries presented food and non-food items worth millions of Leones to the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs in complementing Government’s efforts to cater for child survivors that were affected by the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone.
MR Distilleries was part of a group of Indian owned companies in Sierra Leone that contributed to donate over Le15 million worth of hand washing items during that time, through the Member of Parliament in that part of the country as a way of complementing Government’s effort in eradicating and preventing the rapid transmission during the COVID-19 disease in the country in its operational community.
During the donation exercises the opportunity was used to undertake a robust awareness raising and house-to-house sensitization on the disease and how to prevent it.
During that time, Management of the company noted that they provided the, support as a way of showing their love and passion for residents of Wellington in honouring their CSR.
Under MR Distilleries Community Development and Action Plan the company directed efforts towards complementing the Government’s efforts in providing free quality education in the Wellington Community. The Management has also provided furniture (2 in 1 chairs and desks) to 11 needy primary schools across Constituency 115 in the Wellington community
What is unique about MR Distilleries is that it is a deep rooted ethical minded company whose products do no harm to consumers and the environment, as the country’s Standards Bureau certifies all their products before they are put into the market.
MR Distilleries does not engage in crooked business practices such as falsely reporting their transactions and sales to NRA or the quantity that they produce and sell.
This is not unsurprisingly, MR Distilleries is successful because it applies proper conduct and ethical human values at all levels of its structure and operations.
MR Distilleries do not exploit their workers or use child labor. Casual laborers earn minus overtime they paid them per week, and also monthly, above the country’s monthly minimum wage. Workers have access to medical facilities and loan facilities.
As seen from the pursuance of their CSR, MK Distilleries does not ignore the best interest of its employees, customers, the Government and the environment in a bid to earn more money.
This medium found out that this respected company in Sierra Leone is a blessing to all Sierra Leoneans.
