The company works closely with the local communities in the Hai Duong province where Mascot's factory is located and is the first foreign company to have a bonded warehouse in Vietnam.

Around 700 employees help to produce Mascot's products, including quilt production, running the of raw material warehouse and administration.

Managing Director of the Vietnam factory is Thomas Bo Pedersen, who has, as former Head of Business Department at the Danish Embassy in Hanoi, a good knowledge of Vietnam and its citizens.

"Overseas investment has risen dramatically in Vietnam in the recent years and there are now many good job opportunities for the Vietnamese. To attract and retain skilled labour it is very important for Mascot to be among the best employers and create a good working environment for the employees."

A benefit to staff is having an on-site doctor and nurse who are both full time employees within the factory's own surgery.

In addition to treatment, employees can get advice on health and disease prevention.

Recently Mascot held an information meeting for all employees about AIDS and how the widespread disease in Vietnam can be avoided.

A well known AIDS activist was invited to the meeting, and told their own personal story about the effect of AIDS. This caused some attention in the media as Mascot was the first company in Hai Duong to have taken this initiative.

The company has also introduced initiatives to attract and retain skilled workers. The employees at the factory in Vietnam are offered a good salary and an eight hour working day unlike the long hours often worked in, for example, Chinese factories Staff also get good healthy food in the canteen, paid maternity leave and membership of a union.

"Employee benefits in our factory in Vietnam can be seen as par for the course to those employed in Europe, but the situation is entirely different in Vietnam and our working conditions make Mascot an attractive working place for Vietnamese," adds Thomas Bo Pedersen.

Last year, Mascot received a special award from Hai Duong province and the Vietnamese Ministry for Planning and Investments as a forward thinking organisation among private investors in Vietnam.

The company's commitment to health and safety measures, working conditions and salary levels were all noted.

"We are often named as a great example by Vietnamese, Danish and overseas labour market experts. Relocation of production facilities to lower waged countries should not be done at the expense of fundamental social rights. Mascot therefore, works hard on their Corporate Social Responsibility and has a special Code of Conduct for our suppliers and manufacturers," adds Thomas Bo Pederson.

Danish Trade Unions have also seen the company and the factory in Vietnam and has been visited by LO/FTF's Joint Committee together with 3F Silkeborg. Both organisations expressed recognition of the company's efforts towards Corporate Social Responsibility.

Suppliers must comply with applicable laws and regulations and production facilities must be of a certain standard and not pose a health risk for employees. Child labour is strictly forbidden and Mascot's own inspectors must have access to check the suppliers working conditions.

For the Vietnamese New Year, staff enjoyed two weeks' holiday. Many Vietnamese companies experience 20 - 30% of workers not turning up after these holidays as many Vietnamese workers use these holidays to find new work. Mascot only had three workers not showing up for work after the holiday.

Group managing director Michael Grosbøl saw that as a healthy sign: "Social Responsibility is not coincidental and only used when problems arise. It is an ongoing process that must continuously be transformed into action. We must maintain good business ethics and adapt Danish employee benefits into Vietnamese conditions."

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