Telecoms company MTN has renewed its agreement with the medical and security assistance provider International SOS. The contract, extended for a further three years, will provide integrated risk mitigation that prepare employees for business travel by making them aware of medical and security risks through medical screening, traveller tracking, as well as 24-7 advice.
International SOS says that it has helped thousands of clients adopt preventive workplace programmes; including medical and travel security advice; assistance and risk mitigation planning tailored to the needs of their clients’ employees, locations and operations; and supporting business continuity plans to help avoid costly emergencies.
MTN reports seen a significant increase in their global assignments, with 10,000 business travellers. As some are sent on assignment across borders and in unfamiliar areas, that may expose them to risks, whether to personal health, security and safety. Work-related health problems are higher among travelling employees than non-travellers.
Zain Reddiar, Head International HR Operations for the MTN Group, says: “International SOS understands and can help organisations identify and formulate the best strategies to meet their Duty of Care obligations. With best-in-class capabilities and services across the global, we are comfortable knowing that our travellers and expats are in good hands. Their programs are designed to mitigate risks to travellers, significantly reducing the potential for incurring more healthcare and other related costs.”
International SOS points out that the employer is being held increasingly accountable for a whole plethora of situations that can happen to the international assignee, their dependents and international business travellers.
Reddiar adds: “You can never put a value on a person’s health and safety – their well-being is the number one priority. We know the welfare of an employee assigned to a foreign country takes precedent over any cost concerns, and this is supported by the International SOS prevention programmes that we have put in place. We believe the real value we get back as a result of our relationship could easily be ten times or more than what we actually pay in membership.”
