SOCIAL INCLUSION

As a corporate social responsibility strategy, the ceramic factories employed women to work in the production process. This pro-social inclusion initiative distinguishes the factories from the rest of the civil construction sector, which shows a huge predominance of male employees. “Employing women is bringing us excellent results. Production losses have fallen, as women have proven to be more careful and responsible”, states Mr. Cardoso, owner of the Itabira factory. Beyond promoting a more just and inclusive society, the factories also contribute to values of diversity in the workplace. Promoting diversity isn’t limited to contracting women; the companies also took on disabled people and ex-convicts, helping the latter to gain a foothold in the job market.