The president of Mercadona, Juan Roig, will help all the workers of his company who have suffered the consequences of DANA with well over 50,000 euros, a sum that will also be added to those offered by the Government. In total, it will set aside a budget of 40 million euros to help ensure that its employees “do not have to start rebuilding their lives from scratch,” according to the statement sent by the retailer on Wednesday.
Furthermore, this help will come to them immediately, as it will be delivered to all affected workers on November 21, as the company has pledged.
The aid will be a fixed value for damage suffered to your home or vehicle and which will also be compatible. Specifically, employees who have completely lost their home or which has been partially destroyed will be able to receive 50,000 euros; People who have suffered total or partial damage to their furniture will receive 25,000 euros; and 5,000 euros will be the help for those who have lost small objects.
Furthermore, Mercadona will donate 15,000 euros to those who lost their cars, 5,000 euros for a motorbike and 500 euros for other means of transport such as scooters or bicycles.
This 40 million aid to workers is in addition to the 25 million euros that Roig will allocate to help SMEs and businesses affected by this unprecedented natural disaster which has devastated Valencia in particular.
Marina de Empresas, an entrepreneurship and innovation hub promoted by the president of Mercadona, has already launched the “Alcem-se” platform, with a total endowment of 25 million euros, to help SMEs, businesses, start-ups and workers self-employed workers affected. The aim of the initiative is to reactivate the economic fabric of the affected areas “as soon as possible”, to try to close and reduce the number of companies that close “as much as possible”, we read in a company note.
To speed up the procedures, those interested in receiving help (companies with approximately one to fifteen workers) will have to fill in a form enabled on the platform where they can express their needs (advice for identifying suppliers of machinery or materials, for acquiring new customers and reactivating sales or direct financial aid).
After the request, the technicians of EDEM, Lanzadera and Angels will evaluate each case presented and prescribe who can offer help and how it will materialize: from meetings with specialists to direct financial help, which will not be refundable and can reach up to 10,000 euros.
Interview with Juan Roig: Mercadona’s Commitment Post DANA
Editor of Time.news (ET): Welcome to the Time.news interview series. Today, we have the honor of speaking with Juan Roig, the president of Mercadona. Juan, thank you for joining us.
Juan Roig (JR): Thank you for having me. It’s a privilege to discuss our recent initiatives.
ET: Let’s dive right in. Mercadona recently announced a massive support package for employees affected by DANA. What motivated you to commit over 40 million euros to this cause?
JR: DANA has been a devastating event for many of our employees. As a company that values its people, it was essential for us to step in and support them through these challenging times. Our goal is to ensure that they won’t have to start rebuilding their lives from scratch after such a catastrophe.
ET: That’s a commendable initiative. Can you break down how the aid will be distributed? How does Mercadona plan to assist employees with different levels of damages?
JR: Certainly. We have structured the support to cater to various circumstances. Employees who have completely lost their homes will receive up to 50,000 euros. Those who have seen partial destruction will get 25,000 euros, and individuals who lost small objects will receive 5,000 euros. This way, we can address the diverse situations our workers are facing.
ET: It’s great to see a company take such a proactive approach. How quickly will the employees receive this assistance?
JR: The aid is set to be delivered promptly on November 21. We understand that many of our employees are in urgent need of support, and we want to be there for them as soon as possible.
ET: In addition to the financial assistance for your employees, Mercadona is also donating a significant amount to local recovery efforts. Can you tell us more about that?
JR: Absolutely. We’re committed to giving back to the community. Alongside the financial aid for our employees, we are donating 15 million euros to local recovery efforts. We believe that investing in our community is crucial, especially during times of crisis.
ET: It’s heartening to see such corporate responsibility. What message do you want to convey to your employees during this challenging time?
JR: My message is simple: you are not alone. We are unified in both good times and bad, and we will get through this together. The strength of Mercadona lies in its people, and we are dedicated to supporting each other.
ET: Thank you, Juan, for sharing your insights and plans. It’s evident that Mercadona cares deeply for its employees and the community. We look forward to witnessing the positive impact of your initiatives.
JR: Thank you for your time. It’s important that we share these messages, and I appreciate the platform to do so.
ET: It has been a pleasure, Juan. Thank you again for the work you’re doing and for joining us today.
JR: Thank you. Let’s remain hopeful and committed to rebuilding and recovery.