June 16, 2022

To our stakeholders:

I am pleased to confirm that the Commercial Real Estate Company (Al-Tijaria) reaffirms its support of the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact in the areas of Human Rights, Labour, Environment and Anti-Corruption.

In this annual Communication on Progress, we describe our actions to continually improve the integration of the Global Compact and its principles into our business strategy, culture and daily operations. We also commit to share this information with our stakeholders using our primary channels of communication.

Sincerely yours,

Abdulmutaleb Marafie
C.E.O

The Commercial Real Estate Company (Al-Tijaria), is dedicated to the fight against human injustice and supports human rights. Al-Tijaria treats all its employees fairly with the same amount of respect and value as their peers. We support human rights in our company and our subsidiaries which we believe in the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, and the right to work and education. The Commercial Real Estate Company advocates fairness and equality in the workplace, as it sees it as an aspect of organizational justice with regards to both process and outcome impartiality. Some of the factors that support fair treatment in the workplace include mutual respect, strong interpersonal relationships and honest communication between all employees and departments.

The Commercial Real Estate Company (Al-Tijaria), addresses human rights as a key factor to achieving equality between all employees; which in return creates a environment is treating others equally. This means giving respect to every worker/employee as you strive for an atmosphere of fair proactive and equal treatment by insisting on an open, honest environment focused on clear communication and prompt responses to all employee concerns. We believe consistent treatment of employees in the workplace builds trust, enhances morale, deepens loyalty and spurs productivity. By contrast, favoritism breeds animosity and resentment toward favored individuals and the employer. Al-Tijaria also offers 4 training courses per year for all its employees with help and recognition of the board members, in order to keep them aware of their rights and develop skills in diverse sectors including human rights.

The Commercial Real Estate Company (Al-Tijaria), is committed to treating its employees with concrete honesty and justice. The policy we advocate in supporting human rights is to make the criteria for earning a promotion clear and transparent. Al-Tijaria holds regular performance reviews using quarterly surveys, and encourages communication about performance which includes asking team members to weigh in anonymously and confidentially about promotion considerations, about their job, about the workplace environment, and last but not least justice enactment.

The Commercial Real Estate Company (Al-Tijaria), advocates the concept of upholding the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining in the workplace by eliminating all forms of forced labor, abolishing child labor and the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment/occupation, and commitment to action by enacting ongoing human rights and setting targets for raising the living standards of all workers by adopting sustainability in the supply chain.

The Commercial Real Estate Company (Al-Tijaria), believes in a natural hierarchy between the employer and the employees. We have advocated the principles of adequate earnings between employees, the importance of reasonable working hours to ensure that each employee has a work-life balance, protection as an employee, your workplace may be responsible for certain aspects of your life. This includes family responsibilities, such as paternity leave, parental leave, and flex-time options; and last but not least workers can operate free of discrimination in the workplace. Al-Tijaria monitors the employer-employee relationship so that no discrimination can be inflicted on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or disability.

The Commercial Real Estate Company (Al-Tijaria), is committed to protecting its workers and ensures that the employer-employee relations are monitored, allowing both parties to be held accountable for their actions. Al-Tijaria uses (KPI's) and performance indicators to evaluate performance between the employees in the workplace; When it comes to investigations in the workplace regarding employees; Al-Tijaria starts off investigating why the employee isn’t meeting expectations, then discusses both the highs and lows in terms of improvement. After the discussion, senior managers and board members provide consistent feedback as they progress to improve employee performance. We believe in providing a positive workplace culture that helps to pave the way for higher engagement, greater motivation and better performance among employees.

The Commercial Real Estate Company (Al-Tijaria), supports the environment by applying sustainable business solutions internally and externally, which in return benefits the environment and society. We have launched campaigns such as "plant a tree in my country", on a yearly basis. The campaign started by planting tree seedlings in all around the country and will expand to cover other areas in the future. By doing so, we aim to inspire people all around Kuwait and the region to start similar initiatives that helps in protecting the mother nature. Al-Tijaria pledges that an environmentally aware business considers its impact on society and the environment. Such a business is sustainable because it contributes to the health of the structure which it operates, thereby helping construct an environment in which the business can thrive.

In the first ever report of its kind for Al-Tijaria, the Commercial Real Estate Company comprehensively assessed and launched its first sustainability report this year, amongst the lead in joining the UN Global Compact Initiative in the region. Al-Tijaria has recently decreased the use of paper and plastic in the headquarters of the company and its subsidiaries. Also raising awareness on the environment as we transition to a sustainable eco-friendly world, internally between workers and employees and externally on society and other companies in the market; to take into consideration making more environment friendly decisions and starting campaigns to help the environment by improving their knowledge in relation to environmental risks.

The Commercial Real Estate Company (Al-Tijaria), has prohibited smoking and the use of tobacco in all of its buildings, offices, apartments, and subsidiaries; in order to help improve the health of workers and keep a smoke-free friendly workplace and environment for customers and employees. There are fines that reach up to 500$ if any employee or customer does not abide by our rules and regulations in and around our buildings/offices and apartments. Strict action will be taken in order to prevent the harm of our environment, society, and employees.

The Commercial Real Estate Company (Al-Tijaria), expects all employees, officers, directors, third parties, and subsidiaries working on its behalf to refrain from engaging in any form of bribery or corruption, irrespective of citizenship, domicile, or location. In addition to this general prohibition on bribery and corruption. Al-Tijaria has zero-tolerance for corruption, bribery and extortion. Therefore, it is vital that our employees not only understand and appreciate the importance of this policy, but also comply with it in their daily work routine.

Al-Tijaria does not tolerate any type of corruption in the company and its subsidiaries. Company personnel and employees are prohibited from engaging in corrupt practices, including bribes in the company's business dealings both in the private and government sectors and such conduct will often constitute a violation of one or more anti-corruption laws. The anti corruption policy in Al-Tijaria is intended to outline the company’s risks related to bribery and corruption, to highlight the responsibilities under both the relevant anti-corruption laws and company policies, and to provide employees with the support necessary to identify and combat those anti-corruption risks. We believe that companies must proactively develop and implement policies and concrete actions to advance anti-corruption internally and within their supply chains,

A violation of this policy or the company’s code of business Conduct and rules could result in disciplinary actions including termination of employment. It is therefore vital that employees not only understand and appreciate the importance of this policy, but also comply with it. Employees of the company must abide by all applicable anti-bribery and anti corruption laws, including company policies and the local laws in the country and region in which we do business. We commit to engaging in collective action with business peers, governments, civil society and international organizations to help ensure a level playing field for all in order to eliminate corruption from our world and region.