Background information

Lidl Cyprus, based on the protection measures first issued by the government, established its own health protocol against COVID-19. The Company’s protocol is focusing on employees, customers and suppliers’ protection. The protocol has been subjected to changes since its introduction according to the amendments of the health and safety protocol of the Ministry of Health.

Content of measure

The most important measures of the protocol address the protection of the employees of the company. At first, Lidl following the instructions of the government provided free of any charge COVID-19 tests to all of its employees. Secondly, it informs employees daily about new measures, information and decisions related to COVID-19 by the use of an online intra-company mobile application. Thirdly, Lidl established a 24-7 call supporting centre, which is staffed with health specialists, and it is available for free for both of its employees and their families. Fourthly, it put into place the availability of teleworking for office staff.

The expanded operating timetable of Lidl hypermarkets and the priority that have been conceded to the elderly and vulnerable groups for shopping during the mornings are measures also included in the protocol. These practices have been introduced by Lidl and later have been adopted by the government and implemented in all hypermarkets national wide.

TUV Austria Hellas granted Lidl with the COVID-19 Shield Certification for its health protocol and the applied protection measures.

Use of measure

The only available information related with this practice is the annual bonus announced by Lidl for its employees. Lidl recently announced an extra annual bonus of €200,000 for its employees as a recognition of the effort they made to serve their clientele and prevent the spread of the virus during this year. Together with the amount announced earlier in July 2020, the total bonus amount is sum to €600,000. In total, Lidl employs 620 employees around the Island both in stores and offices and it is expected that the bonus will be shared to all irrespective of their duties and work position.

Contents

• Bonuses
• Health and safety
• Telework

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Applies to all workers	Does not apply to businesses	Applies to all citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
Company / Companies	Employer

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: Company level

Involvement

This is an inter-company practice which was designed by Lidl alone and no social partners have involved in any consultation processes. Lidl is implementing and monitoring its own protocol, which was issued based on the first protection measures of the Ministry of Health.

Views and reactions

No particular views or reactions from social partners have been identified in the press in relation to this the particular practice. However, the Pancyprian Association of Hypermarkets (PA.SY.PE) encourages its members to apply and implement protection measures and follow the guidelines and the protocols of the Ministry of Health in relation to the prevention of the spread of the virus.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 06 May 2020: Μέτρα υγιεινής και ασφάλειας από τη Lidl Κύπρου (inbusinessnews.reporter.com.cy)