ZIRAAT KATILIM STARTED TO TAKE ACTION FROM THE MOMENT THE FIRST CASE OF THE COVID‑19 PANDEMIC WAS RECORDED. THE BCE (BUSINESS CONTINUITY AND EMERGENCY) COMMITTEE, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED BY ZIRAAT KATILIM IN ORDER TO COMBAT THE EMERGENCY SITUATION, MANAGED AND COORDINATED ALL THE WORK.

Ziraat Katılım started to take action from the moment the first case of the Covid‑19 pandemic was recorded. The BCE (Business Continuity and Emergency) Committee, which was established by Ziraat Katılım in order to combat the emergency situation, managed and coordinated all the work.

• The work carried out in this context and the measures taken at the Bank are set out below:
• Ensuring sanitizing activities in common areas and the washbasins of the Head Office buildings were more frequent.
• Products with microbiological analysis reports and product safety reports were selected when choosing hand washing foams for washbasins, and put in place.
• All Head Office buildings have undergone anti‑bacterial and anti‑viral disinfection processes, which contain the substance called silver ionizer. In addition to this practice, which is effective for a period of 6 months, the Head Office buildings were subjected to an additional sanitizing process to cover all working and common use areas.
• Disinfection processes were carried out with a special disinfectant material which provides antiviral protection for the carpets in the Head Office buildings.
• Thermal imaging devices were purchased for the Eminönü and Maltepe Head Office buildings and all branches. Fever measurements of the employees and guests exhibiting a temperature of over 37.5°c using the thermal imaging device are carried out manually. When the fever is confirmed to be above 37.5°c as a result of a manual measurement, the person is prevented from entering the building and directed to the nearest health institution.
• Steps were taken to ensure that personnel transportation vehicles used by employees were disinfected on a regular basis with cleaning carried out more frequently. Personnel transport vehicles were re‑arranged according to social distancing rules.
• Informative visuals were posted in the cleaning areas and common areas.
• Employees were informed with the text under the heading of “Informing about Covid‑19 and measures to be taken” on the Bank portal.
• The workplace doctor provided information to employees on a face‑to‑face basis for 15 minutes on each floor at the Head Office buildings.
• Posters setting out the measures to be taken were placed in the Head Office buildings and in the branches.
• Departures abroad were subjected to approval, and a mandatory 14‑day leave on returns was put in place.
• Training and interviews were carried out online.
• A scenario was created for back‑up need in which employees who are disadvantaged, or disabled or pregnant, or on breastfeeding leave were are sent on leave.
• In order to meet reporting and leave requests, back‑up, inventory and scenario work was carried out.
• Social distancing was maintained by drawing strips between the counters and customers. The spread of the virus was prevented with the placement of plexi‑glass on the counters.
• Customer visits have been postponed except for obligatory reasons.
• Due to the difficulty of cleaning suits and hygienic reasons, the dress code of wearing Business Casual was removed temporarily, with the opportunity to wear Smart Casual provided.
• Remote access authorization was defined for personnel and the necessary equipment was provided.
• Steps were taken to ensure that tea, coffee and other refreshments were provided using disposable materials (such as cups, forks, spoons, etc.) at the Bank.
• All employees were informed regarding the use of masks and gloves. It is obligatory to wear masks in common areas such as the working environment, elevators, kitchens, prayer rooms and personnel transportation vehicles.
• Protective materials and sanitizer were sent to all branches. Branches which did not receive cargo were given the opportunity to obtain these materials from their regions and locations.
• The ATMs at branch entrances are cleaned every 2 hours throughout the day.
• Necessary notifications for directing customers to non‑branch channels are carried out over social media, through SMS texts and by e‑mail. In this vein, withdrawal limits from the ATMs were increased to TL 5,000.
• At the branches, customers are allowed to be admitted to the waiting hall and kept waiting by taking into account social distancing.
• Steps were taken to ensure that the branches where cases were detected, and personnel with Covid‑19, were put under isolation with services continuing through the mobile branch.
• Steps were taken to ensure that personnel working at the Head Office observed seating arrangements in accordance with social distancing, with sittings according to certain groups and periods. The salad bar service was suspended for individual use, with salads instead provided in a package.