DICV Plans Workforce Diversity, Aims for 20 Percent Women Employees by 2022

By: WE STAFF | Wednesday, 6 January 2021

Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler AG, Germany, on Tuesday said it aims to increase the ratio of female workers at its Tamil Nadu plant to 20 percent by 2022.

The company has already hired 46 women for shop floor operations at the company’s Oragadam manufacturing facility near Chennai, as part of its ‘DiveIN’ (diversity and inclusive) initiative.

The new employees have been deployed across key function areas on the shop floor, including engine & transmission, cab trim, quality management, cabin-in-white and paint shop. To ensure welfare and well-being of the new employees, DICV has implemented a comprehensive set of changes at the factory. The company first installed suitable infrastructure and services such as specific restrooms and changing rooms, DICV, which is the wholly-owned subsidiary Daimler AG of Germany, said in a release. It also reinforced existing workplace policies and measures including the speedy grievance redressal system, gender sensitization training, and the POSH-prevention of sexual harassment committee.

“One goal of DiveIN is creating a gender-balanced staff base by increasing the ratio of female factory employees to 20 percent of the whole by 2022,” the company said. Satyakam Arya, MD & CEO, DICV, said, “Diversity is critical to the long-term success of any organisation. At DICV, we are promoting inclusivity by welcoming women to our factory with a supportive, professional working environment”.

With the hiring of 46 woman employees, it has completed the first stage of the ‘DiveIN’ initiative to increase diversity for a more inclusive workforce, the company said.

Yeshwanth Kumar Kini, head of HR, said, “Diversity and inclusion are some of our fundamental principles at DICV. To ensure new employees settle comfortably into their new roles, we provide a comprehensive on-boarding process, including training on safety, health and hygiene, communication skills, firefighting and basic tool handling. We hope this initiative encourages more women to join a company that understands their value”.

DICV, operating under the umbrella of Daimler Trucks Asia, is a full-fledged commercial vehicle player in the Indian market and the only Daimler entity worldwide with a brand – BharatBenz - dedicated to its home market. It produces 9 to 55 tonne trucks, BharatBenz buses, Mercedes-Benz coaches, and bus chassis in India. DICV’s manufacturing plant at Oragadam near Chennai, spread over 400 acres, has a modern test track and is home to the company’s headquarters, R&D, and training operations.

The company’s products and parts are exported to more than 50 markets in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. DICV represents an overall investment of more than 9,560 crore.