Corporate Citizenship | RATCH Group PCL. (RATCH)

The Company commits to operate its business adhering by sustainable development guidelines with aim to create the organization growth in all aspects; including economic value, shared social value, and environment. The corporate social responsibility focuses on community and social development to promote and support environmental conservation projects, energy conservation activities as well as enhancing living quality of people in communities and society at large in line with the Company’s strategy and business operations under the Company’s sustainability development policy and the social and environment policy which is governed by the corporate governance and sustainability committee

More Info:	Corporate Governance and Sustainability Committee
	Environmental and Social Policy
	Corporate Sustainability Policy

Structure of community and social management supervision

Unit	Responsibilities
Board of Directors	Establish the sustainability vision and strategy entailing economic, social and environmental aspects; and via the Corporate Governance and Sustainability Committee supervise and ensure effective implementation of the strategy in line with targets.
Corporate Governance and Sustainability Committee	Consider and approve the sustainability strategy and primary goal, taking into account community-related aspects as well as the action plan/targets for building relationship with neighboring communities. Monitor the implementation of community programs, efficiency and achievements; and report to the Board of Directors. Promote the engagement of directors, executives and employees with the Company's social and environmental activities. Review and recommend proposals to improve the guidelines on a regular basis, as deemed appropriate, in alignment with stakeholder expectations.
The Management	Consider and outline the action plan and target relating to community and social activities and steer for concrete implementation in response to stakeholder expectations. Delegate power to responsible units and monitor the progress and achievements.
Corporate Affairs Department	Prepare the community and social action plan and implement it. Monitor and evaluate community and social activities against the Company’s targets, and report to the Management and the Board of Directors. Monitor the community and social issues material to the business or industry, for a review of the alignment and completeness of the Company’s policy; the assessment of risks and impacts on the Company; and the formulation of sufficient management and control guidelines. Disclose the performance of community and social operations in Sustainability Report and the corporate website on an annual basis.
Community Relations Division	Devise the community-relations action plan in line with community expectations concerning the power plants’ ability to manage operational impacts and to improve community quality of life in public health, career, education and safety aspects. Communicate the Company or the power plants’ policy and data to communities accurately, timely and thoroughly, covering all target and affected areas. Coordinate and carry out projects with community engagement as planned by each power plant/project. Seek cooperation from public organizations, government offices, and non-profit organizations operating in the localities where power plants/projects are located. Hold meetings for discussions or gathering community opinions and recommendations and quickly and effectively coordinate in the management of community complaints and concerns. Report the results, risk issues and management initiatives to the Management on a regular and timely basis.

Operational targets in 2024

Operational framework

More Info:	Environmental and Social Policy
	The Code of Conduct

Improvement of community quality of life and economy and society

Education for Career Empowerment Project in Lao PDR

The project is a goal in the Sustainability Strategy in social dimension, initiated to support human resource development in the localities the Company's operating sites are located, especially Lao PDR which is a significant business base. RATCH and Lao PDR’s Ministry of Education and Sports jointly designed the project to support vocational education development in the country, focusing on essential technical skills for the electricity industry and entrepreneurial skills for the improvement of local community. The project also addresses the labor demand of RATCH’s businesses in Lao PDR. It not only promotes technical skills and career development, but also lays the foundation for vocational study in renewable energy. In 2024, students received laboratory training on power generation from solar power and, to demonstrate responsibility for community, installed solar power generation systems for communities in need. The project thus benefited both students and communities.

Performance in 2024

Training and practical work experience for senior vocational students.

Activity	College/School	No. of people (persons)
General maintenance training	Senior vocational students, Vientiane Province Technical College’s Vocational Certificate Program	20
Solar panel installation workshop for solar power generation	Senior vocational students, Integrated Technical-Vocational School of Nambak (Luang Prabang Province)’s Vocational Certificate Program	20
Total		40

After the workshop, the senior vocational students of Integrated Technical-Vocational School of Nambak (Luang Prabang Province)’s Vocational Certificate Program used their knowledge into practice, by installing 150-watt solar panels at 33 households in Baan Dan Community, Phoukhoun City, Luang Prabang Province. Able to generate 4,950 watts, the solar panels offered the community an additional access to electricity and lifted the quality of living by giving power to small electrical devices like mobile phones, televisions and radios.

With expertise in harnessing renewable energy for power generation, RATCH also transferred the knowledge to 120 Lao teachers and students at a training session at Vientiane Province Technical College.

SROI-based impact assessment

The Education for Career Empowerment Project in Lao PDR has been carried out since 2009 in collaboration with the Lao PDR’s Ministry of Education and Sports. The project is now in its third phase (2024-2030). The emphasis is on the development of skills in metal wielding, general maintenance, electrical control and renewable energy for vocational certificate-level teachers and students in eight schools which are; Khammouane Technical Vocational College, Vientiane Province Technical College, Luang Prabang Technical Vocational College, Integrated Technical - Vocational College in Xayabouly Province, Bolikhamxay Technical College, Champasak Technical Vocational College, Sekong Integrated Technical – Vocational School, and Attapeu Integrated Vocational Technical School. The project also provides knowledge and career training for students, under the goal to improve the quality of life of communities around the Company’s operating premises in Lao PDR.

RATCH applied the Social Return On Investment (SROI) tool to evaluate the project’s impacts, following the completion of the first phase (2011-2015) and the second phase (2018-2023). The evaluation results are as follows:

Relevant Stakeholders

Department of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (DTVET), Lao PDR’s Ministry of Education and Sports
21 participating technical colleges
83 teachers from 20 technical colleges
1,646 students from 13 colleges
5 elementary schools receiving solar power generation systems
33 households in 1 community receiving solar power generation systems

Supports	Results
Vocational supports: e.g., training courses for teachers and students, training equipment, and training course development	Enhanced efficiency: Students were better equipped with knowledge and skills through the education improvement that promotes a specific career development.
Development of curriculum at involved educational institutions	Enhanced expertise of teachers: Students were given an opportunity to improve their potential with secure jobs that provides more income and a better quality of life.
Installation of solar cells for water pumps at schools	Favorable condition for students: Clean water led to better hygiene, more effective learning and reduced sickness.

Social Return On Investment = 1.36:1

For every unit of money invested, the project generates 1.36 of value in return in economic, social and environmental dimensions, indicating the worthiness and value above the investment.

Economic value	Social value	Environmental value
71.616 %	28.383 %	0.001 %
DTVET gained additional budgets for learning improvement. Teachers enjoyed career development opportunities. Students enjoyed job and stable income opportunities. Community saved expenses on candles and lamps due to solar power. Students at solar power-installed schools enjoyed sufficient lighting, saving medical expenses on eye care in the long run. The absence rate and medical expenses on digestive diseases dropped as students had sufficient solar-powered electricity and clean water for consumption and cleaning purposes. Solar cells reduced schools’ utility expenses.	DTVET had higher capability in formulating new curricula in response to current market demands, like solar power and control of building elevators. The project is a model for Lao PDR’s Ministry of Education and Sports in harnessing private sector assistance for educational development. Students enjoyed professional skills practical for their future career. Students enjoyed supports to start own businesses. Migration of student dropped. Community quality of life improved due to solar power. Students had pride in doing a good deed, installing solar cells for the community.	Community reduced independence on external energy sources due to solar power. Community reduced oil consumption for motorcycles and carbon emissions due to solar power. Schools enjoyed a favorable environment and supports on renewable energy.

In 2024, Lao PDR’s Ministry of Education and Sports bestowed the Cross of Development to RATCH, honoring the foreign business enterprise for its contribution to Lao PDR’s development via the Education for Career Empowerment Project, which has yielded tangible results and widespread social benefits since its start in 2011. RATCH is also considered a model for social responsibility.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR COMMUNITY

Establish understanding and trust

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Improvement of quality of life

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RESPONSIBILITY FOR SOCIAL

ESMS Manual and Stakeholder Analysis and Engagement Procedure

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Community Forest Program

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Community Energy Conservation

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