Awarded for the successful implementation of SCORE Training to suppliers

The gas company EFIGAS S.A. E.S.P. was awarded the regional and national Social Responsibility prize by the Colombian Chamber of Construction (CAMACOL) for the implementation of ILO´s SCORE Training in suppliers: “Labor Productivity Development of Contractors through SCORE Training”. The company competed in the social and labor management category with other enterprises that implemented high impact projects.

EFIGAS S.A. E.S.P is the first lead buyer of the utilities sector to use SCORE Training in 13 SMEs between 2018 and 2020. Training and technical assistance was conducted by SCORE Implementing Partner Alianzas por el Desarrollo, with the leadership of Expert Trainer Oscar Andrés Cardona.

The extended version of the first module of SCORE Training was designed by Alianzas por el Desarrollo to custom fit the intervention to the lead buyer needs. Hence, a single productivity indicator was designed for each of the two enterprise groups, with an improvement target of 12%. After the six-month process, productivity increased between 14% and 83%.

A smoother more efficient operation within SMEs and a strengthened relationship between the lead buyer and the contractors led to a significant improvement in service quality and final customer satisfaction. Client complaints decreased between 24% and 44% depending on service type, and the request, complaint and claim response rate increased by 7%. Improvements increased profitability, enhanced lead buyer reputation, and benefited more than 700 workers and 560.000 customers.

SCORE Training also improved the work environment, especially through the strengthening of workplace cooperation, communication, teamwork, and openness to change, among others. Women participated in the trainings and were part of the Enterprise Improvement Team (40%), taking the lead in project implementation (60%). On average, the SMEs included three gender related projects in their Enterprise Improvement Plans.

By implementing SCORE Training, the SME Redes y Conexiones Amaya generated three new jobs in gas installation for women. After participating in the training, the two brothers that own and manage the company, identified gas installation as an occupation that was mostly male by tradition. They decided to open a job advertisement exclusively for female gas installers, without prior experience and/or certification. The SME trained the applicants and certified the women that complied with standard and went on to hire three of them.

This award shows lead firms the importance of working to strengthen the productivity and labor conditions of their contractors as a mechanism to ensure decent work in the supply chain and generate shared value for stakeholders (company, SME, customers). Lead buyers can also work together with other buyers from the same region and/or sector to put in place a joint supplier development program.

ILO invites all businesses, organizations and suppliers to use SCORE Training as a strategic tool with broad proven benefits to increase productivity and improve working conditions in SMEs. You can find more information at www.scorecolombia.org and www.facebook.com/SCOREColombia