Stakeholders

Employees

GRI G4-DMA Diversity and equal opportunity

Aegea’s growth is the result of the work of 2,238 active employees committed to the Company’s Vision, Mission and Values. They are spread throughout the administrative headquarters in São Paulo (SP) and in the other 43 locations where the Company maintains operations. Of this total, 620 are women and 1,795 are men. Continual investments are made in attraction, retention and training in order to benefit this public, contributing to Aegea’s longevity and the development of its professionals. GRI G4-10

Profile of employees

GRI G4-10 | G4-LA12

Attraction and retention of talents

Aegea establishes guidelines to attract and retain talents, in line with its strategic planning and timeline of growth. The goal is to structure high-performance teams to support growth.

Whenever possible, priority is given to local hiring. Nevertheless, all possibilities for internal promotion must first be exhausted.

In an effort to recruit young professionals to hold leadership positions in the future, Aegea maintains a Trainee Program. The 24-month program is built on the following pillars: training, projects, orientation and monitoring. Participants are therefore monitored by Business Unit directors and are given periodic performance evaluations. They acquire technical knowledge of the business, an understanding of management tools and competencies for leadership and planning, as well as other skills.

During the year, 18 young people were selected the year prior to join the initiative, with another 15 set to start working at the Company starting in 2016.

Aegea also has the Young Apprentice program for people aged 14 to 24 looking to enter the labor market.

Compensation and benefits

Appreciation of the internal public is also expressed through the Employment Position and Salary Policy, implemented in 2015, and according to best market practices. Workers received a fixed salary and a benefits package that includes food vouchers, meal vouchers, a basic staples basket, transport vouchers, childcare assistance and medical and dental care which is also extended to direct dependents.

Development and training

Aegea is a factory of opportunities foremployees who want to grow in their careers. The Company employs a series of initiatives to support the development of these professionals.

In 2014, the Aegea Academy was established as a new model of corporate education aimed at spreading the Company’s knowledge on the water and sanitation sectors (see more). In addition to this structure, employees rely on training and qualification courses managed by the Aegea Administrative Center (CAA).

Master of Business Administration (MBA) | Courses geared towards developing the leadership ability of managers.

Qualifying training | Education offered to qualify workers who hold a high school degree and demonstrate capability to operate a water station. Professional enhancement is done through Aegea Academy.

Behavioral training |Training on the use of motivational techniques, offered to employees working in direct contact with users. There are also modules for managers dedicated to relationships with the press and the community.

In addition, according to procedures established in the Code of Ethics and Conduct, all employees must participate in the integration process, in order to guarantee compliance with the Organization’s guidelines and aspects related to internal conduct. During the year, 764 employees took part in this type of training, which represents 31.41% of the staff. There were a total of 40,268 training hours. GRI G4-HR2

Users

GRI G4-DMA Customer health and safety | G4-DMA Product and service labeling | G4-DMA Customer Privacy

Learn about other Aegea sustainability programs here.

Suppliers

GRI G4-12 | G4-HR6 | G4-DMA Child labor | G4-DMA Forced or compulsory labor | G4-DMA Indigenous rights | G4-DMA Assessment | G4-DMA Supplier human rights assessment

Government

The relationship between concessionaires and local governments is established through a contract. In line with the Code of Ethics, the Company is positioned as a complementary agent to the government, actively contributing to creating and executing specific projects and public policies (see more).

Press

In order to protect their images and reputations, concessionaires constantly monitor news published and broadcast by the press involving the Company. All content is analyzed and classified as positive, negative or neutral.

To encourage production of stories on the importance of basic sanitation, the Águas Guariroba Environmental Journalism Award ceremony is held in Campo Grande (MS), recognizing the role of journalists in reporting information to raise public awareness on caring for health and the environment.

For the 2015 edition, there were 65 entries and the writers of the best reporting in each category received a trophy and certificate as well as a cash prize. The panel of judges is made up of professionals with experience in the areas of communication, the environment and sanitation.

Community

GRI G4-DMA Local communities

Initiatives promoted with a focus on environmental education and health, as well as efforts to democratize access to services provided, show the respect Aegea has for communities located in the regions where it maintains operations. All business units currently employ initiatives for this public. GRI G4-SO1

Social responsibility programs and initiatives

Programa Saúde Nota 10 (A+ Health Program) | An initiative aimed at instilling interest among children and adolescents in topics such as health, hygiene, sanitation, environment and quality of life. Initially executed by Águas Guariroba (MS), this initiative was extended to other locations where Aegea maintains operations. For instance, in 2015 it was implemented in Pedra Preta (MT), where the Nascentes do Xingu operation is located.

Through partnerships with municipal and state education secretariats and with the support of the Rouanet Act, the program includes talks and classroom activities according to students’ age. Educational magazines, developed especially for the program, are also distributed.

Cultural contests with the theme of Treated Sewage and Water: Health for All are also promoted. In recognition, the top three placing students in these contests receive kits with a shirt, squeeze bottles, a backpack and a personalized bike

The closing ceremony includes a theatrical performance with puppets, presenting the topics covered by the program in a playful way. Since 2006, this initiative has served 267 public and private schools, benefitting over 223,868 students.

Programa Afluentes (Affluents Program) | Carried out by various concessions, this program fosters communication between the Company and communities through dialog with community leaders and community associations. This allows for identification of regional needs and opportunities to enhance services.

Actions employed in the program include visits to community associations, talks in neighborhoods and meetings with Company representatives. There are also monthly meetings at concessionaires, attended by the executive board and managers, which are an opportunity to present investments, answer questions and fulfill community requests. From 2009 to 2015, over 21,230 requests from community leaders were met.

De Olho no Óleo (An Eye on Oil) | An initiative carried out under the auspices of the A+ Health program, the goal is to raise student awareness of the environmental damage that results from dumping oil into the sewer system and how to appropriately dispose of this type of waste in order to recycle it. Students are challenged to find used oil through scavenger hunts, with this oil then being sent to recycling coops. In Águas de Mirante, the campaign is developed at supermarkets in various city districts in addition to schools. This program has been active since 2012, and has already reached 45 business establishments and 59 learning institutions, involving 14,367 public school students who have collected over 5,000 liters of oil for reuse. In Águas Guariroba, from 2011 to 2015, the campaign had already served 45,867 students, contributing to collection of 17,378 liters of oil.

Campanha do agasalho (Sweater drive) | Initiative executed by volunteer employees of Águas Guariroba, with the support of other companies, public agencies, community leaders and civil society. Sweater collection points are spread throughout units and service posts of Aegea’s controlled company, in addition to boxes located at campaign partner establishments. The goal is to help extremely impoverished people.

On Saturdays, volunteers also take part in the Supportive Dragnet, a vehicle convoy that goes from the downtown area out to city neighborhoods in every region of Campo Grande (MS) to boost contributions. To help in this work, the Guaribinha capybara, the mascot of Águas Guariroba, encourages volunteers and is a cheerleader for this initiative. Since 2006, when the project began, 295,080 items have been collected.

From 2013 to 2015, 2,000 items were raised in the municipality of Piracicaba (SP). This project was also implemented at Prolagos in 2015, raising one thousand items in the municipalities in the concession area.

Cinema Prolagos | Held since 2009, this project brings the magic of film to fisherman communities served by Prolagos. The project seeks to turn everyone’s attention to topics related to environmental conservation through free, outdoor film sessions. Partnerships are also established with municipal education secretariats in order to cover concepts in the films that will be developed in the classroom with students. Eight showings have already taken place, attended by 4,203 people.

Corrida das Águas (Water Run) | An event held by Águas Guariroba that is part of a week of activities scheduled to commemorate World Water Day. The goal is to call attention to the importance of preserving water resources, while also encouraging healthy habits. Athletes take part in a street race with four categories: Women’s 5K; Men’s 5K; Women’s 10K; and Men’s 10K. There is also a 5K Walk. The 2015 edition had one thousand participants.

Saber Faz Bem (Knowledge is Good) | A program aimed at raising awareness of the importance of sustainable development and the need to preserve natural resources for future generations. To do this, Prolagos representatives visit schools, universities, community associations, churches and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), with interactive talks and activities on the water cycle, sanitation, health and conscientious consumption. Aegea’s controlled company also welcomes people and student groups to its water and sewage treatment stations for monitored visits and moreover takes part in public events, joint global initiatives, science fairs and forums. Since it was created in 1998, Knowledge is Good has been responsible for 853 talks with 23,856 people and 169 visits to 5,211 beneficiaries.

Sanear é Viver (Sanitation for Life) | An initiative developed by Águas Guariroba (MS), since 2009, the goal of this program has been to orient municipal public school teachers on covering subjects related to basic sanitation in the classroom. This initiative is done in partnership with the Municipal Education Secretariat and, every year, teachers from a specific subject area are invited to attend a talk on basic sanitation and learn about treatment stations in Campo Grande (MS). The Operational Control Center, Guariroba Water Treatment Station and Los Angeles Wastewater Treatment Station are part of the agenda. Teachers are challenged to develop a class plan that joins basic sanitation with the educational content of their subject area. The best projects are awarded and published on the concessionaire’s website. From 2009 to 2015, 818 teachers visited the Águas Guariroba company and were trained by the program, which is also developed at Águas de Xingu, where 167 teachers benefitted from the program in 2015.

Atendimento Itinerante (Mobile Customer Service) | An initiative executed by Águas Guariroba, Prolagos and Águas de Timon that brings customer service to the neighborhoods located furthest from these concessionaires’ service posts. All kinds of services can be requested at this mobile location: transfer of water and sewer utilities, update of registration, copy of bills, requests for new water and sewer connections, installation of standard water meter protection, verification of high consumption, and others. Through more accessible service, the low-income population in these regions is able to ensure that any water connections with unpaid debts are in good standing. Mobile units provide special conditions to negotiate debt, such as payment in installments and discounts on penalties and debt. After placing their account in good standing, these customers are eligible for Social Rates. Since 2010, 26,813 services have been provided to the community.

Bolsa socioambiental (Social and environmental grant) | Developed by Prolagos, this agreement reinforces the partnership between the concessionaire and fishing communities working on the largest hypersaline lake in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Araruama Lake. The initiative is part of the Sentinels of Araruama Lake Program, developed by the Technical Chamber of Fishing and the São João Lake Basins Committee. Support has been provided since 2013, benefiting over 500 fishermen.

Piracicaba 100% | This project encourages the population to participate in actions touting how important collecting and treating sewage is to nature, the urban environment, public health and improved quality of life for people. Notable among the objectives of these actions are community mobilization and organization, creation of jobs and income and sanitary and environmental education. The project has already been held in 22 districts of Piracicaba (SP), with participation by 20,000 people.

Tarifa Social (Social Rate) | 50% discount on water and sewer rates, granted to low-income families. Municipal Law No. 3,928/2001 was instituted, serving users who, among other criteria, have a household income of less than one minimum monthly wage, own just one property for residential purposes and consume up to 100 kWh of electricity and 20m³ of water per month. Every year, all beneficiaries must renew their registration at the concessionaire serving their area. In an effort to extend this benefit, Aegea teams identify and register users that fit the criteria required through the Affluents and Mobile Customer Service programs, among others.

In 2015, the Social Rates program was recognized in the Inclusive Markets in Brazil: challenges and opportunities of the business ecosystem report, published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Fundação Dom Cabral (see more).

Instituto Equipav

Along with Instituto Equipav, Aegea develops initiatives in the social, environmental, educational and cultural area. Created in 2013, the institution has been established as one of the party’s chiefly responsible for the development and execution of most of the social initiatives of Grupo Equipav. Goals are set for each project and a methodology for assessing results is defined, allowing for development to be monitored or for support to be repositioned. In 2015, the Institute invested BRL1.8 million in social and environmental actions in dozens of municipalities. Notable among these are:

Baú das Artes (Arts Treasure Chest) | A program developed by Água de São Francisco do Sul (SC) with the support of the Rouanet Act, offering educational support to teachers in work developed with children. Through this measure, public schools in São Francisco do Sul (SC) receive cabinets with around 200 items, including games, costumes, puppets, percussion instruments, toys and art materials, in addition to a collection of 300 children’s books. Five schools took part in the program in 2015.

Cinema no Mato (Cinema in the Forest) | An initiative aimed at professional training in the film and video area for young people aged 14 to 20, using themes related to environmental preservation. The pilot project was developed by Instituto Equipav, in partnership with Ministry of Education-funded Culture Points in these municipalities and Águas de Primavera, a concessionaire controlled by Nascentes do Xingu. In 2015, 60 students were benefitted.

Estação Viva (Living Station) | Held in Piracicaba (SP), this initiative seeks to engage employees in projects, social actions and volunteer work. Campaigns cover support for volunteering, social assistance, culture, education, health, senior citizen social initiatives, blood donations and historical narration. From 2014 to 2015, 32 campaigns were held, benefitting over 7,676 employees in low-income communities in the municipality.

Escolas Sustentáveis (Sustainable Schools) | Environmental education program held over the last eight years in the public schools of São Francisco do Sul (SC). With the support of teachers and students, participating units undergo a Social and Environmental School Diagnosis, providing orientation on actions dedicated to respecting biodiversity, conscientious consumption and healthy eating habits, among other themes. Approximately 6,000 people have already been impacted by the initiative.

The Arts Treasure Chest and Sustainable Schools program received BRL285,000 in funding from Instituto Equipav in 2015.

Learn about other projects at.