South Africa

NEW PAINTSHOP GUARANTEES HIGHEST LEVEL OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Western societies have been concerned with social issues since the industrial revolution. In the 1970s, the topic of environmental protection appeared on the political agenda. If we wish to ensure a future worth living for future generations, we must master these two challenges. Industry must not leave it up to governments to solve these two issues, because they do not stop at the factory gates. It must increase its use of environmentally friendly technologies and assume responsibility for employees in the form of a company social policy.

Volkswagen is facing these challenges worldwide. A good example of this is the Uitenhage plant in South Africa, where Volkswagen has been manufacturing vehicles for more than five decades. Approximately 6,000 employees are active in automotive production there. Volkswagen is one of the pioneers in South African vehicle exports. In 2006, we established a new paintshop there, with the most leading-edge systems, environmental controls and energy recovery equipment.

The paintshop went into service in December 2006 and is doing its part to lower emissions in comparison to its predecessor. At Uitenhage, specially developed procedures help to reduce the amount of thinner used and cut waste. Even the paint is particularly environmentally friendly. The use of painting robots throughout the paintshop also significantly increases quality while improving working conditions.

COMMITMENT RECOGNIZED IN FIGHT AGAINST AIDS
In the past two years alone, Volkswagen created more than 500 jobs in Uitenhage. The plant is thus a constant economic and social factor in Eastern Cape Province.

This is evident in Volkswagen’s commitment to the fight against Aids in this region. Volkswagen of South Africa launched its anti-Aids program in 2001 in cooperation with the Gesellschaft für technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ – German Corporation for Technical Cooperation) and the local physicians’ association. Its integrated approach is founded on education, healthcare and risk management. Volkswagen’s healthcare program makes first-class medical care for HIV positive employees and their family members, as well as home care and assistance from social workers, nutritionists and psychologists, possible.

These measures are supported by the Volkswagen Community Trust, which was founded in 1988 by workers and the Company. The trust promotes schooling and educational initiatives, as well as healthcare projects, among other things. Projects relating to combating Aids include prevention measures and Aids orphan care.

For its commitment to the fight against Aids, Volkswagen was presented the Corporate Care Award by Professional Management Review Africa (2004) and the “Business Excellence in the Workplace” award of the Global Business Coalition on HIV/Aids (2005).