Impacts related to other Performance Standards were not identified during IFC’s review. 

PS5: Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement. The Group’s expansion is planned within existing facilities’ boundaries and does not envisage new land plots acquisition. Acquisition of land plots by the Group in the past didn’t cause any involuntary physical or economic displacement. 

PS6-PS8: Tajero facilities are in developed areas advantageous for distribution operations (i.e. industrial zones, in proximity to main roads), and the very locations of these stores makes issues related to other Performance Standards unlikely.      

 The Group will notify IFC in case of any new development in their corporate distribution business. The Group will also report to IFC about any material non-compliance with applicable Performance Standards (PS1-PS4) and corrective actions taken, and will immediately notify IFC on any significant E&S incidents in any of their distribution operations.                                  

 This investment is a category B project per IFC’s Environmental and Social (E&S) Sustainability Policy. 

Key E&S aspects for this new investment are the same as those identified under previous projects and comprise: (i) safe and fair working conditions aligned with national requirements and those of IFC; (ii) management of labor risks in the supply chain; (iii) energy efficiency of refrigerated warehouses; (iv) traffic impacts and safety; and (v) stakeholder engagement.                                               

 The Group’s E&S policies and practices were reviewed by IFC as part of previous projects and found to be commensurate with the project’s risks and impacts. Additional measures previously agreed with IFC to further improve EHS performance in consistency with IFC’s Performance Standards - have been implemented by the Group to IFC’s satisfaction. Environmental, health and safety performance of previous IFC investment was good. Updated information provided by the Group demonstrates continued good EHS performance. No new Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP) is therefore envisaged for this project. However, if IFC’s supervision activity identify any gaps between the Group’s performance and IFC’s Performance Standards - corrective measures, intended to close such gaps, will be agreed in the Corrective Action Plan and implemented by the Group to IFC’s satisfaction.                                                  

 Identified risks and impacts are managed by a straightforward application of standard and site-specific EHS control measures into project designs (e.g. life and fire safety provisions, oil water separators to treat storm water runoff prior to discharge, etc.). 

Management Programs, Organizational Capacity

Operational environmental, health and safety risks and impacts of the Group’s operations are limited. Tajero ensures compliance of its operations with applicable EHS requirements via the associated EHS management system which includes basic operating procedures and management programs to control issues such as waste management , equipment maintenance, occupational health and safety, emergency response.   Tajero has assigned responsibility for oversight of environmental performance at the Group’s level to the technical advisor. Routine obligations such as waste removal, water meter readings, electricity meter readings and diesel consumption are assigned to operational specialists who report to the technical advisor. Tajero has also nominated an Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) officer who provides overall guidance on OHS issues at the Group’s level. Tajero has developed OHS plans, programs, safety instruction consistent with local regulatory requirements and sufficient to manage key OHS related risks. Overall responsibility for emergency preparedness and fire prevention, as well as for relevant staff training, is assigned to the security officer.

Emergency Preparedness and Response

Tajero has developed an emergency preparedness and response plan to address various emergency scenarios, including those caused by natural hazards like floods, earthquakes. Emergency Preparedness and Response plans for fire incidences include responsibilities distribution, provision of firefighting equipment and instructions on its proper use by emergency teams and relevant employees and evacuation plans and instructions. Tajero’s offices and storage facilities are equipped with the necessary life and fire safety equipment in accordance with national requirements, and this includes an automatic fire detection system, first response equipment, dedicated firewater tank, fire hydrants, firewater pumps and fire hoses that are sufficient to cover the  warehouse and office areas. Tajero holds a fire safety permit issued by the local fire inspectorate for all its operations. Annual drills are conducted in coordination with local fire brigades on a regular basis.

Monitoring and Review

Energy consumption, quantities of solid wastes, wastewater quality, lost time accidents, road accidents and workplace conditions are among regularly monitored parameters at the Group level. Tajero facilities are regularly inspected by the national sanitary, environmental, fire supervisory authorities.  No major outstanding EHS risks were identified by these authorities previously. Regular site inspections are performed by the OHS officer and security officer; the latter being responsible for fire safety                                               

   Human Resources Policies and Procedures 

At present, Tajero employs approximately 800 employees of whom 10% are women. The elements required by PS2 are covered in a series of internal documents that are presented to new employees at the start of employment. All documents related to labor practices use the Labor Code as the basis for managing worker relations. As part of previous IFC’s projects, Tajero has developed a Human Resources Policy to cover additional labor related aspects consistently with PS2 requirements, such as workers’ grievance mechanism.  

Working Conditions and Terms of Employment

The Group does not employ child or forced labor. The minimum employment age is 18 years. Aside from the general HR Policy described above, individual contracts serve as another mean of providing staff with information on their terms and conditions. Tajero pays salaries well above the national minimum wage for workers in Tajikistan. Working hours are recorded manually and may not exceed 40 hours per week. Any deviation from fixed working hours is agreed and voluntary, there is no excess overtime.

Workers’ Organizations and Grievance Mechanism

Tajero has no formal trade union and it was confirmed that Tajero will not halt any efforts by employees to set up or join labor unions should they wish to. Various staff communication channels and grievance mechanism are in place including regular staff meetings and drop boxes; these are considered consistent with PS2 requirements. Given the overall expansion of the current project, no worker downsizing or retrenchment is expected.

Occupational Health and Safety 

Occupational health and safety (OHS) risks associated with product storage and distribution are largely limited to heavy physical labor at loading-unloading operations, slips/ falls and road safety. Tajero has reported zero lost-time workplace safety-related incidents throughout the last three years. OHS training and personal protective equipment are provided to staff depending on specific workplace conditions. First-aid kits are in medical room, office area and in working areas. Tajero has arranged and maintains regular on-site medical examination of drivers.  

Supply chain

Tajero distributes only imported FMCG goods which are sourced from reputed companies (global and from CIS-countries). Also, based on the type of contracting relationships and volumes, the company does not have any significant leverage on its FMCG suppliers. In case the Group will start to distribute any locally produced FMCG, it will make formal inquiries about local suppliers’ policies on child and forced labor. Child labor risk is present in Tajikistan, and it will be particularly important to ensure that local supply chain conform to laws on child and forced labor, if and once the Group decides to develop such.                                                

           Electrical power to Tajero facilities is supplied by the public grid. Water is extracted from boreholes located onsite, and for potable purposes bottled water is supplied; hot water for sanitary needs is heated locally by electrical boilers. Wastewater is low in volume and discharged to the municipal sewage system. For on-site collection of stormwater a drainage system is organized which is connected to the municipal system.  Vehicles are repaired at service centers with some very limited service work performed on-site. There is no fuel storage on-site.

Within the previous IFC investment the Group has developed waste management plans for warehouses and the repair workshops. Special areas for temporary waste storage are arranged at all the Tajero sites. Solid wastes are removed by specialized contractors to local licensed landfills. Some solid wastes with re-use value such as packaging cartons and polyethylene are collected by third parties for recycling. Application and storage of chemicals used for cleaning is maintained in accordance with national regulations and controlled by operational personnel and supervisory authorities. Pest control is undertaken through agreements with competent authorities.

The annual total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the project are not expected to exceed IFC’s threshold of 25,000 tons of CO2-equivalent per year. GHG emissions are attributable mainly to the use of refrigeration units; and secondarily to the use of fuel for vehicles (as many of them are equipped with natural gas engines).  Warehouse refrigeration systems are based on the use of R 410, R 404 and R 134 refrigerants.  As a part of ESAP for the previous investment, Tajero has replaced R22, which was used in some chillers.   

 Tajero’s warehouses are equipped with refrigerators which are installed separately in ventilated machine rooms. Refrigerators operations are automatic and includes controlling functions of the working parameters, such as oil and refrigerants’ pressure, temperature, as well as emergency shutdown. The chief engineer undertakes a twice daily inspections and regularly checks of the refrigeration equipment.  The staff responsible for refrigerator maintenance undergo the relevant training, including safety instructions. Tajero ensures regular service of refrigerating equipment which is outsourced to a licensed company.                                        

      Tajero’s facilities are located in populated suburb locations in areas of residential and commercial use. 

The Group’s truck fleet consists of 167 small size trucks. All trucks undergo regular technical maintenance and every truck has a technical certificate and sanitary passport confirming that it complies with national requirements to safety and air emissions. To enhance traffic safety the Group only hires experienced licensed drivers and conducts safety briefings on a regular basis. No vehicle collisions have been reported by the Group for the last three years. Speed limit is 40 km/h for access roads and 5 km/h within the Group’s facilities. 

Tajikistan is situated in an active seismic zone and the national construction rules require mandatory implementation of earthquake resistant measures during buildings design and construction. Tajero’s compliance with national safety requirements for buildings is confirmed by the relevant authorities. 

Tajero does not use contracted guards. Its own unarmed security staff are selected after multilevel interviews and a probation period. Personnel are trained onsite in appropriate conduct toward workers and local communities in line with Tajero’s safeguard regulations and local laws. No security incidents have been reported.                                             

 The Group discloses general information on its business activities and plans through its web site http://www.tajero.tj 

Risks and impacts associated with the Group’s operations are limited due to the nature of the operation. However, since some warehouses are close to residential communities, Tajero is keeping the communication line with residents and customers open. Grievances may be raised through a complaint book available at each site and through a telephone hotline number available on the company’s website. All complaints are reportedly investigated and acted upon.  The Group stated that no grievances or complaints have been received from the public regarding traffic, noise or other impacts.                                           

    For more information about the project and local access of documentation, please contact: 

Mr.  Gaibullozoda Abdurakhmon

Director General

Tel: +992 37 234 26 76/77; +992 44 601 11 22/33

Fax: +992 37 234 26 78

Website: http://www.tajero.tj/index.htm

Address: 3 Kushteppa site, Jamoat Rossiya, Rudaki district, Dushanbe, 735103, Tajikistan