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Working Conditions

Health Clinics

Gildan provides frontline healthcare to all of its employees in Central America and the Dominican Republic through fully equipped medical clinics at each of our manufacturing facilities. While focusing on workplace-related health issues, our medical team, composed of 23 doctors and 38 nurses are also often called upon to provide such services as pre-natal care and vaccinations.

We also have an equipped medical center at our Bangladesh integrated facility, where one doctor and two nurses are available every working day and shift. Employees visit the medical center in the event of a minor injury or accident.  Medical staff provides medical advice and general treatment for medical issues such as sudden headache, fever, diarrhea, and general health awareness. On an average, there are at least 30 to 40 visits per day.

During 2012, our doctors from our on-site medical clinics in Central America and in the Dominican Republic provided more than 43,920 incidents of medical attention to our employees.

In 2012:

• 6,040 employees from Central America and the Caribbean Basin were vaccinated free of charge against tetanus, hepatitis B, influenza, pneumococcus, rubella, diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT), and polio.
• More than 4,500 employees from Honduras and Nicaragua received vitamins and dewormers.

In addition to basic health care services, all pregnant employees are also eligible to receive medical advice related to their pregnancy through Maternity Workshops from Gildan’s on-site medical staff in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Honduras. At the majority of our facilities in Central America and the Dominican Republic, when employees register for this program, they are given training on various topics such as:

• Special care for pregnant women
• Exercise techniques to facilitate birth
• Care for the newborn (hygiene and preparing the home environment)
• Breastfeeding techniques

• Drugstore

  In May 2010, in partnership with the Instituto Hondureño de Seguridad Social (IHSS), Gildan opened a new drugstore adjacent to our Rio Nance complex clinic in Honduras. All employees working at the complex can benefit from this service.

  This year, we automated the registration process for all prescriptions provided at all or our facilities at the Rio Nance complex. During 2012, the drugstore provided medicine for more than 46,500 drug prescriptions filled by our doctors at the Rio Nance complex. In order to cover all of the employees’ health issues, the Company provided more than $152,000 in medicine to be offered at no cost at our clinics.

• An Industrial Nurse for our Charleston employees

  At our Charleston, North Carolina facility, our employees benefit from the presence of an onsite industrial nurse. As an integral part of the Gildan safety program, this nurse provides assistance with pre-employment screening requirements, assistance to employees who are injured on the shop floor, and other illnesses/injuries that may occur during the course of work. In addition, the nurse also works on safety policies and procedures. The nurse’s contribution has resulted in an enhanced health care program on several fronts: health and safety awareness, greater medical presence, on-site pre-employment screening, on-site work-related injury assistance, employee morale, and reduced lost time from work.

• On-site Nurse Practitioner

  In Newton and Mebane, North Carolina, employees from GoldToeMoretz have access to the services of an on-site nurse practitioner.  For eight hours each week, employees can consult the nurse to address their personal health concerns, or receive a written prescription, without leaving the facility.  This program has not only reduced absenteeism but has also positively impacted the company’s self-funded group health plan, as the cost of treating minor illnesses on-site is far less than a normal doctor’s office visit. These services has also allowed us to reduce our company’s overall year over year claims cost. All current and newly hired employees are encouraged to participate in a voluntary, confidential, health assessment conducted by the nurse practitioner as an alternative way to identify and treat any potential health risks that may have gone undetected.

• Focus on Health & Wellness

  In an effort to bring attention to wellness in the workplace, our GoldtoeMoretz facilities focused on a broad range of events that could impact all areas of the workforce.  In October 2011, we provided all 644 employees from all facilities and administrative offices with a packet of information on “How to Maintain a Healthy Back.  The packet was mailed to the employee’s home address, for use by the entire family, and included a DVD that contained exercises that would improve overall back health.  In November 2011, we conducted on-site seminars at all North Carolina locations, in conjunction with our health care provider, on the topic of managing stress. Participation in these 30 minutes sessions was high, with a total of 110 employees attending. We also offered all employees annual flu shots in November 2011.  A total of 240 employees took advantage of receiving their flu shot at their facility.  In December 2011, we recognized those individuals who had participated in our year-long wellness initiatives:  107 employees participated in at least one wellness event throughout the year, 52% of the participants attended 4 out of 5 events and 21% of employees completed all 5 wellness programs. Employees are eager to learn about the wellness events we have planned for the future. Several have offered ideas for topics they would like to learn more about. We will continue to work on educating and advancing the importance of health and wellness within our employee base in hopes that it will also have a broader impact on family and friends.