UDAIPUR (India CSR): Hindustan Zinc Limited, the world’s largest integrated zinc producer, has taken a progressive step toward advancing workplace equity with the launch of its Guidebook to Inclusive Language. This initiative underscores the company’s unwavering commitment to fostering a diverse, respectful, and inclusive work environment. The guidebook is designed to act as a strategic framework that promotes sensitization towards various communities, encourages inclusive communication, and supports equitable practices across all levels of the organization.
The Guidebook was launched on Hindustan Zinc’s homegrown #Zinclusion platform that strives to embrace diversity in all forms, including the LGBTQIA+, differently abled individuals, and people from different geographies and ethnicities. It featured a panel discussion on the theme of ‘Allyship’ promoting inclusion and diversity led by the company’s CEO Arun Misra, and Retired Air Commodore, AIF Member, and Transgender Healthcare & Social Inclusion Activist, Dr. Sanjay Sharma. The company has pioneered LGBTQIA+ inclusion with industry leading workplace policies such as providing financial support of up to INR 1 lakh for LGBTQIA+ community employees, INR 2 lakhs for gender reaffirmation with leaves for transgender employees considering gender reassignment surgery, and many other supporting policies like parenthood policy and housing policy.
Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Chairperson of Hindustan Zinc and Director of Vedanta Limited, expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, “At Vedanta & Hindustan Zinc, we strive to create an environment where every person is valued and empowered to be their authentic selves. We are actively fostering a culture that values diversity and ensures equal opportunities for all. This guidebook reflects our values of togetherness and belonginess where you are not just an employee; you are part of a family; a place you can truly call home.”
In a traditionally male-dominated metals and mining sector, Hindustan Zinc has employed twenty-three LGBTQIA+ community employees across its business units, offering significant representation in mainstream roles like finance, supply chain, marketing, quality, medical, and other departments. This has been possible due to the company’s commitment to providing rich job content powered by a tech-first approach through Industry 4.0, robotics and automation that have standardized work processes and eliminated manual intervention associated with this sector. The company provides differentiated career enhancement opportunities in this high-growth sector with the global boom in critical minerals and energy transition metals.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Sanjay Sharma said: “Language shapes how we see each other, it can either build barriers or open doors. Hindustan Zinc’s Inclusive Language Guidebook is a powerful step toward creating a culture of respect, dignity, and belonging. I also truly appreciate the Buddy System the organisation follows to promote inclusivity; it’s a thoughtful and effective way of embedding inclusion into the organisation in a sustainable manner.”
Through regular sensitization sessions, leadership advocacy, and community engagement, the company is actively nurturing a workplace rooted in empathy and awareness, ensuring that every voice is heard, every identity respected, and every individual is empowered.
Since 2022, the company has been expanding its recruitment efforts to actively include members of the transgender community, who face challenges in securing sustainable livelihoods for a life of dignity. With this initiative, the company aims to create a paradigm shift towards acceptance and inclusivity in the manufacturing industry, for multi-dimensional thinking and well-rounded decision-making. Hindustan Zinc aims to achieve 30% diversity in the workforce by 2030 as per its Sustainable Development Goals and currently has a gender diversity ratio of nearly 26% in the executive workforce, amongst the highest in the world in the metals & mining sector. Exciting Opportunity for LGBTQ
