Local development and microfinance
In addition to actions carried out in connection with AXA Hearts in Action and the three areas for action identified, the Group has various initiatives supporting local communities. AXA has adopted a human resources policy giving the local workforce priority, with this commitment covering developing countries and senior management positions. Closer to its core business, Financial Protection, AXA is also developing microfinance products in order to meet new demands in emerging countries.
Furthermore, the Group and its subsidiaries also support one-off initiatives, such as humanitarian actions, in light of any events that may occur.
1) Local development
AXA's actions in India
AXA's subsidiary in India, AXA Business Services (AXA BS), was founded in 1999 and today employs nearly 1,000 people. The Bangalore and Pune facilities were set up to handle certain back-office customer services for AXA: insurance policy issuing, claims monitoring, accounting and call center work. When answering calls from AXA clients, staff tell them not only their name and title, but also where they are working out of, ensuring transparency at all times. AXA has enabled the AXA BS site to develop by creating jobs that are better paid than those available with Indian companies. The human resources policies applied in western countries have also been adopted for this site, with four weeks of paid leave, pension funds, compliance with national holidays, eight-hour workdays, employee dining and recreational facilities, and regular pay increases. A workers' committee has even been set up to represent AXA BS employees in labor-management dialog. The development of this site has also made it possible to reduce the number of young Indian graduates leaving the country because they were unable to find jobs in their country. Furthermore, in line with the Group's specific training principles, AXA continues to train up its staff throughout their careers. Lastly, by setting up this site in India, AXA has also accelerated the development of local infrastructures. The Bangalore site was also visited by representatives from the Group's European Works Council and an international union representative, who were able to confirm these elements onsite in 2003.
AXA France working to narrow the digital divide in Senegal
In June 2006, at an event attended by the President of the Senegalese Republic and the Mayor of Besançon, the Chairman of AXA France inaugurated the first three primary schools kitted out with computers offered by this company. The aim is to gradually equip a large number of primary schools with an IT multimedia room. The used equipment provided in this way has been renovated by the centre for disabled people at work in Besançon. A similar centre will also be set up in Senegal with a view to carrying out these transformations on site, while also creating job opportunities.
2) Microfinance
AXA's initiatives in this area, including its participation in the Global Commercial Microfinance Consortium, are presented in the "Financial Protection" section.
3) Tax and social contributions
On account of its size, AXA represents a major local contributor each year to the indirect distribution of wealth.
Taxes 2005 |
France: 1.281 million euros |
US: 547 million euros | |
UK: 74 million euros | |
Japan: 0 | |
Germany: 148 million euros | |
Belgium: 208 million euros | |
Southern Europe: 88 million euros | |
Other: 48 million euros | |
TOTAL: 2.394 billion euros | |
Wages |
Total payroll, all staff (2005): 5.385 billion euros |
4) Other contributions
Following the tsunami in Southeast Asia, the AXA Group decided to double the total amount of funds given by its staff to support the victims, redistributing these funds to humanitarian organizations, committing to a minimum of 1 million euros. The total amount paid came out at 2,200,000 euros (1.7 million euros by AXA companies and 0.5 million euros by employees). In this way, AXA France provided 293,000 euros of funding.