Standard Chartered Bank Bahrain has elected its first 14-member employee Engagement Council (EC), which has been designed to have fair and objective representation from each of the functions and departments in the bank.

The council is an independent and cross-functional body representing major business functions in the bank with the aim of improving staff engagement and collaboration, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

The main tasks of EC members is to communicate issues and challenges raised by their colleagues to improve employee engagement level, raise topics and suggestions to management, as well as, ensure the Standard Chartered code of conduct - which was recently refreshed, to be the framework for the bank workforce.

"One of our main objectives as a major employer within the financial sector is to ensure that employees are fully engaged and receive equal opportunities to get their voices heard," said chief executive Hassan Jarrar.

"The EC is one of many channels the bank is facilitating employee engagement and dialogue. We are very proud to have been the first bank in Bahrain to introduce this concept and truly look forward to the ideas and suggestions put forward.

"Being the first bank in Bahrain with Bahrainis making up almost 70 per cent of the total work force, our focus remains the development of Bahrainis and continuously contributing to the community through our various initiatives."-TradeArabia News Service