OREANDA-NEWS. March 25, 2013. MMC Norilsk Nickel became a winner of the competition The Best Russian Enterprises. Dynamics, Efficiency, Responsibility - 2012 in a special nomination For the Programs Supporting Family, Motherhood and Childhood. The awarding ceremony took place today at the conference of the Russian Business Week. The competition was organized by the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.

MMC Norilsk Nickel is a leader among socially responsible companies in Russia. In 2013 about RUB 7.4 bln. is to be spent on social programs, which corresponds to previous years’ level.

Alongside with other social projects, the Company is implementing social programs aimed at the support of  family, motherhood and childhood.

Every year about 1,600 of employees’ children spend their summer vacation in recreation camps located both in Russia and abroad. Employees have to pay only 15% of the trip cost. The rest is paid by the Company.

The Company also implements a health improvement program for employees and their families. In 2012 recreation and health centers in Russia and abroad accomodated over 27.8 thousand of people, with RUB 1.6 bln. spent to this end.

Besides, the Company co-finances the construction of two nursery schools in Norilsk, for 300 people each. The commissioning is scheduled for 2013. Only in 2012 RUB 725.3 mln. was spent on the project.

Moreover, every year a number of creativity competitions, sports and festive  events are held for the children of the Company. Children of all the Company’s employees receive gifts on major holidays. The program involving organization of school students’ labor groups is under way. In 2012, 799 high school students were employed by the Company on part-time basis as unskilled workers.

Large families, single parent families and employees raising children with disabilities get financial support.

To support young families, preferential loans program is implemented: an employee can get a loan at 7.5% per annum for accomodation purchase in Norilsk industrial district.

Special attention is to be paid to Our Home and My Home programs destinated to young professionals the Company is interested in. Ready-for-living apartments are purchased by the Company in favorable regions of the Russian Federation and provided to the employees on the terms of co-financing: up to a half of the purchase price is paid by MMC Norilsk Nickel, the rest is paid by the employee within 5-10 years. All this time the employee has to work in the Company’s subdivisions. The apartments in question are located on the mainland: in Moscow, Krasnodar Territory or Leningrad region.

In accordance with the Collective Agreement of 2012-2015, RUB 2 - 2.4 bln. is to be spent annualy on the implementation of these programs. By the end of 2012, the Company spent RUB 6.95 bln. on the implementation of these programs. At least 1,850 apartments are to be acquired for this amount, about 1,200 of them have already been purchased and made available to the employees of MMC Norilsk Nickel.