Doha: Ooredoo has been certified on ISO 22301 Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) since 2018 which places Ooredoo as one of the few telecom operators in the world having an enterprise-wide scope of implementation.
As part of this BCMS implementation, a comprehensive Pandemic Response Plan has been activated late January when the outbreak intensified in China. The plan includes an up-to-date resource planning strategy, Work From Home, Self-Quarantine and Office Hygiene Procedures taking into account various phases of the COVID-19 outbreak.
At the outset in late January, Ooredoo has formed a cross-functional COVID-19 Response Taskforce to prepare the organisation for worst-case scenarios and the following additional measures were taken early on, in order to mitigate potential risks even with the lowest likelihood of occurrence in January:
There was regular communication with our employees and contractors to enhance their awareness on COVID-19 and protection measures that they need to be aware of. Travel restrictions were imposed and there was self-quarantining of employees who had recently travelled back from any country above 20 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Face to face meetings inside and outside the organization were avoided and there was encouragement for TP and video-conferencing instead.
There was close monitoring of visitor access to Ooredoo facilities and review of their travel history. There was quarantining shipment received from affected territories for up to nine days and vast distribution of hand sanitizers in high risk areas, Ooredoo facilities and retail shops, were done.
Ooredoo secured appropriate Personal Protective Equipment – PPEs (disposable face masks and gloves) stock for employees facing general public and there was strict implementation of social distancing procedures across Ooredoo facilities and retail shops.
With the health and safety of its employees its highest priority and to ensure Business Continuity, Ooredoo has successfully implemented Work-From-Home starting March 15. Currently, the company has more than 80 percent of its office-based staff and 95 percent of its call centre staff operating from home, fulfilling customer expectations and supporting the State of Qatar in slowing down the spread of the virus by encouraging everyone to stay at home as much as possible
For employees working at Ooredoo facilities and at open Ooredoo shops, Ooredoo has put in place a number of protocols to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 infection and transmission.
All personnel working at any Ooredoo premises are required to wear PPEs, including shoe covers, disposable gloves and face masks, which are provided at security checkpoints by Ooredoo.
All customers entering Ooredoo shops must wear masks, for their own safety and that of our staff. Similarly, staff working in shops is also required to wear masks.
And in a move designed to further reinforce its complete commitment to protecting the health and safety of staff and customers, Ooredoo has installed a Fever Screening Thermal Camera System at its Al Sadd retail shop.
The camera screening system is capable of identifying individuals presenting with a body temperature of 37.3 degrees or greater, upon which an alarm will sound to notify staff. Such individuals will, in the interests of protecting the health and safety of those around them, not be permitted to enter the shop and will be advised to visit the nearest medical facility for evaluation.
The system is also capable of identifying individuals attempting to enter the shop without a mask, in contravention of Ooredoo’s policy of asking its customers to wear masks when visiting its premises.
This technology is being rolled out across 20 manned sites and retail shops, to be completed by mid-May. There is also a limit on the number of customers allowed in the shop at any one time; strict social distancing procedures are applied inside and outside the shops.
Ooredoo is risk averse when it comes to self-quarantine procedure implementation. The self-quarantine period adopted by Ooredoo is 28 days instead of the recommended 14 days. This ensures Ooredoo is effectively contributing to limit the spread of the virus and limiting the risk of transmission to the minimum.
In addition, deep-cleaning and sanitisation are regularly taking place across all operating facilities and retail shops to ensure the safety and health of our employees, customers and partners at all times.
Ooredoo is constantly monitoring the developments on the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, and implementing any necessary action in a timely manner accordingly.
At all times, Ooredoo is strictly following the directives of the Qatar government in support of its efforts to fight the ongoing spread of COVID-19.
