People

Diversity, equal opportunity & non-discrimination

We operate our business with the belief that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) make us stronger as a company.

We promote diversity among our teams, with a focus on developing quality training courses for all employees to further their professional skills and advance in their careers. We invest resources in promoting diversity, and we monitor gender diversity across the company on an annual basis. We respect and protect our employees’ fundamental rights and freedoms in line with our Code of Ethics and human rights and are committed to preventing all forms of discrimination throughout our organization.

We strive to build a culture of diversity and inclusion by increasing self-awareness, education, and promoting an ongoing dialogue with employees across all levels, and by learning from different community partners and organizations.

ZIM ESG values are implemented across business units and organizational levels, and we promote togetherness through a safe and equal work environment. We take our ESG commitment seriously and communicate this throughout the company, demonstrating clear steps to achieve our targets, so we are all forging ahead towards the same goals. We hold ourselves to the highest levels of safety for our employees on land and at sea, and are committed to upholding all labor rights across global locations. We are proud of our diverse workforce and uphold the value of an inclusive, safe work environment for all, and we are dedicated to supporting employees’ professional and personal development, across our business units.

We are amplifying our efforts to increase diversity and the representation of minorities and underrepresented populations.

ZIM Employees Worldwide

*Data as of 31 Dec. 2022.

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ZIM Employees by Seniority, Age and Gender

We are amplifying our efforts to increase diversity and the representation of minorities and underrepresented populations. Worldwide in 2022, 40% of the managers at ZIM were women, an increase from 39% in 2021.

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Social benefits & wellbeing

We see great value in providing our employees with a complete ZIM experience, as reflected in the work environment of the company. We believe this starts with fostering a strong connection to the company’s values and visions, continues through open, ongoing communication with management, and includes career development opportunities, support, and feedback on a regular basis.

We provide our employees with competitive salaries, and all employment benefits specified by law in the countries in which we operate. We conduct yearly salary analyses that take into account inflation, promotion opportunities, annual evaluations, and more. We allow flexible working hours to enable employees to maintain a supportive life-work balance, which we highly value. In addition, we continue to offer hybrid work options (working from home), even as we move past the critical stages of the COVID pandemic. We also offer opportunities for discounted family vacations and activities for employees to enjoy with their families, as well as digital courses for employees’ children. In all locations in which we operate, we provide social benefits and wellbeing packages according to acceptable local practices and requirements, such as standard healthcare, retirement, education, disability insurance, vacation days, parental leave, life insurance, and other benefits. In 2022, we upgraded the insurance policy offered to employees in Israel. To raise awareness of health issues and promote a healthy lifestyle, we offered a variety of programs to employees in 2022, including a special session to learn about breast cancer, lectures on sustainable consumption and preventable health issues. Employees also participated in a range of group activities, including a marathon and annual sports event in Eilat for workplace leagues, where 55 men and women from ZIM competed in different team sports, such as basketball, table tennis, bowling, volleyball, and more.

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Training & education

We provide a wide range of training and education programs and opportunities for employees. Topics span a wide range of areas, including professional skills, such as Excel and language studies, and information technology training. Training is offered throughout an employee’s career, from junior positions to senior management levels, to support internal advancement and mobility. Training and education are provided through a variety of channels.

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Evaluation Process

To help employees set individual career goals, we have incorporated a mid-year goals review as part of the annual evaluation process. The focus is on setting and updating individual goals, aligned with the company’s strategic focus, with the belief that accurate goals help lead to better results. The annual review process includes self-evaluations, as well as evaluations by managers, and indirect manager review, and one-on-one feedback conversations for each employee. To support internal mobility, available positions are posted on the employee portal, and are shared with all current employees.

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Health & safety

The health and safety of our employees is a priority at ZIM. ZIM is wholly committed to managing our vessels safely and in compliance with maritime and international regulations.

We focus on safety on ships, as we see this as a material issue for ZIM. Ships are hazard-filled work areas, with a range of risks arising from working at high levels, in enclosed spaces potentially filled with hazardous gases, and during storms and inclement weather. We strive to create a culture of safety through the organization and to ensure safety measures are followed across our operations. From upholding the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (the SOLAS Convention) and ensuring local, national, and international regulations are followed at sea and at land, our approach to safety is comprehensive and detailed. To support compliance and maintain a safe working environment, we provide extensive training and education to employees on a regular basis.

Information regarding health and safety is shared with all employees through e-learning and training sessions, and occupational health services are provided to employees in accordance with the collective agreement.

On Ships

ZIM is wholly committed to managing our vessels safely and in compliance with maritime and international regulations. The work that is conducted at sea and in ports involves unique risks and requires the utmost attention to safety. ZIM employees are highly trained to work safely in these environments. Emphasis is placed on marine safety, safe working practices, and the protection of the marine environment. We aim to have zero safety incidents at sea. ZIM safety policies and regulations apply to ships owned by ZIM and pertain to ZIM seafaring employees, as well as third party suppliers that board our ships, such as stevedores and seaport pilots. Employees receive regular briefings and training sessions on health and safety, including anti-sexual harassment and bullying, before and after journeys, in addition to on-board training. Any unusual job on ship is authorized through a work permit that includes a risk assessment, and any crewmember who believe there is a safety risk can refuse to perform a task until a preventative measure for that risk is implemented. We comply with all relevant external regulations regarding the operations of our vessels, including the International Safety Management (ISM), Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), and International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations, such as the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). Our Safety Management System (SMS) is ISM-code compliant and was developed internally by ZIM. It is continuously updated and applies to all ZIM owned and managed vessels, and it is implemented and enforced by all captains and officers.

Onshore

Just as safety at sea is a priority, so is the health and safety of our employees onshore. Safety at our headquarters is overseen by the ZIM safety committee, which is comprised of dedicated employees and managers, a safety supervisor, and maintenance manager. The committee meets monthly to examine incidents, review lessons learned, and implement remediation actions and plans, as needed.

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Labor rights

We protect labor rights and promote a safe and secure working environment for all workers. We support a healthy work-life balance for our employees and invest in employee training worldwide to support individual growth and development, professionally as well as personally.
ZIM is compliant with all labor laws in the locations in which we operate, and we uphold the value of a fair and equitable work environment. As outlined in our Code of Ethics, we are committed to providing employees with equitable employment terms, paying fair remuneration in accordance with the type of work conducted, and paying wages and social benefits in accordance with the relevant legislation in each country in which we operate.

We strictly safeguard the labor rights and human rights of all our employees, as well as employees in the supply chain, and employees of our business partners. Therefore, we refrain from contracting with potential suppliers and business associates who do not comply with the same high standards of ethical conduct. Our business operations are consistent with the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) and the United Nations Global Compact principles, and we require our suppliers to comply with these principles, as well. We do not tolerate forced labor, including child labor or any other form of modern slavery, such as human trafficking. There is no child labor in any of our global locations, and we do not employ people under the age of 18 in any of our agencies. Our recruitment units regularly check recruitment processes, and we have internal audit procedures to ensure this policy is strictly upheld.

Anti-Harassment

We are dedicated to providing a safe, healthy work environment that is free from discrimination, harassment, bullying, and sexual harassment. The ZIM Anti-Harassment policy for seafarers outlines our zero-tolerance policy for any such behavior or activity and applies to all seafarers or people visiting or working on a vessel. Seafarers have the ability to report a complaint through the On-Board Complaint Handling Procedure, which includes precise procedure details and relevant contact information, in accordance with the MLC. All employees on ship and onshore receive mandatory tutorials for sexual harassment prevention and creating a respectful work environment, and there are posters displayed in our offices specifying who to contact if needed. A company sexual harassment commissioner has been appointed to oversee and deal with any issues that arise.

Read more here.