SOUKAT KUMAR bhattacherjee

• Dedicated, result oriented, astute professional offering 19 years of rich experience; leveraged skills in managing all labour relations and welfare activities inclusive of organisation and its supply chains. This includes management of both organisation and its supply chains through conducting on site worker welfare induction and trainings. Inspection of their employment practices, workers Accommodation and transportation, as well as management of workers grievances as and when raised, conducting workers committee meeting to understand their concerns and suggestion for betterment.  Organising welfare events and celebrations as well as liaising organisational leadership to provide fair guidance and support at site and off-site level by recommending solutions by efficient communication.
• Proficient in conducting workers interviews and providing cross cultural counselling to employees belonging from various subcontinents (South Asia, Africa and MENA region) on their professional & person problems especially on, occupational health related issues, absenteeism and organisation specific issues and concerns for further interventions. 

Documented record of strong, decisive executive leadership; proven expertise in coordinating various programs and projects in a challenging environment while ensuring on time deliverables within pre-set cost parameters  

Assistant Worker Welfare Manager 4 Innovo Build LLC ( Previusly ASGC Construction LLC) June 2019 to present. 

Major Assignments

• Managing all Worker welfare initiatives in ASGC/Innovo Major Projects with Aldar PJSC and Masdar City Abu Dhabi per approved worker welfare policies and plans of ASGC within UAE and specific to client’s requirement.
• Assisting Project leaders to approach and achieve qualitive worker welfare practices at projects in compliance with legal requirements and contractual agreements. 
• Supply chain data management as well as managing audit and inspection of Subcontractors and supply chains on their employment practices, Workers Accommodation and transportation to determine the compliance level further conducting risk based follow up the mitigate the gaps identified.
• Conducting Workers Welfare committee meetings, interviews and counselling of workers as and when required to address their issues related to occupational health and wellbeing. 
• Managing the grievance of workers of organization and its supply chains by intervention, investigation and escalation to key concerned while addressing it appropriately to resolve the issue. 
• Coordinating with Client/ Consultant team for updating the weekly progress status on manpower, close out of report status, closure of grievances of workers and other relevant project information. 
• Instrumental in carrying out worker welfare events at site and workers accommodation not limited to monitoring Worker wellness Wearable Programs of EXPO 2020 Dubai, Worker welfare forums, Committee Meetings, EXPO Sports events \ Awards ceremonies and workers exposure visits etc.
• Tracking the progress and Compliances level by follow up meeting and Worker Welfare Issue log trackers and Risk Assessment registers. 

Additional Assignments and Major Achievements

• Astutely undertook Health and Welfare Campaigns with ASGC team for executing mass level events and engaging different medical service providers and government entities to cover wide medical assistance to workmen.
• Achieved EXCELLENT League status while off boarding ASGC as main contractor from EXPO 2020 Dubai project without any pending risk /non compliances.
• Conferred with Work excellence award from EXPO 2020 for contractor of the year -2019 for demonstrating excellent commitments towards health and wellbeing of employees. 
• Received appreciation from TIME/EMAAR for outstanding worker welfare management for managing worker welfare at Sustainability pavilion -The Terra at EXPO 2020 Dubai. 

Senior Welfare Officer4 Arabtec Construction LLC, Dubai                                              August 2014- May 2019 

Key Deliverables

• Managing development of welfare management plan, welfare policies and sub-contractor’s policies for minimum assurance of welfare standards following Federal Legal compliances and standards of Dubai Expo 2020.
• Ensuring workers welfare standards and legal requirement (Cabinet resolution 13 of 2009) and Assurance Minimum Standard for worker welfare guidelines (rev- 3 and 4) of Dubai EXPO 2020 are followed in Labors Accommodation
• Undertaken worker welfare compliance audits for Arabtec camps and its subsidiaries at regular interval and updating close out action to management/ clients through their preferred ERP software (like Aconex) 
• Demonstrated excellence in handling welfare initiatives for workmen including post landing orientation, counselling, addressing grievances and disputes, ensuring statutory welfare facilities, managing long absenteeism, Labour welfare committee meetings, training and capacity building of employees having poor performance, welfare events like annual sports, cultural events, employee recognition events etc. 
• Providing welfare support for repatriation including disable/ deceased employees and follow up for indemnity amount. 
• Assisting and Advising management in issues of medical insurance, compensation to disabled employees on work related or non-work-related events as per UAE Federal Law. 
• Played pivotal role in promoting Workmen Mental Health and Occupational Stress Management through conducting workshops with Labour community.
• Instrumental to achieve Taqdeer Award 2016 (5-star rating) and in subsequent years  from Government of Dubai for best labour welfare practices in Organization. 
• Ensured installation of CAFM system in all Labour accommodation with help of IT department to initiate Help desk management and online Complaint and Grievance Management for smooth implementation of camps operations.
• Managing Workers satisfaction survey, Monthly/ Annual Progress Reports and all presentations related to Worker’s welfare. 

Additional Assignments and Major Achievements

• Astutely undertook large camp mobilization planning and coordination for executing the plan in action in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain and ensured standards of municipalities and other regulatory bodies are properly maintained by conducting Welfare Compliance Audits. 
• Assisted management in development and managing risk mitigation and controls measures during strikes / workers unrest at project sites/ accommodation. 
• Developed Management System Manual (SOP) for all functions of Operations Department under guidance of HSEQ department.
• Played pivotal role in advising operations management in drafting contractual agreements with 3rd party services providers for hiring Accommodation, catering and other services for workmen. 
• Successfully developed Quality Management manuals for welfare operation, Camps Operations and Arabtec Workers City Operations Manual which are later approved by Government Authorities like Zones Corp and internal entities like HSEQ department.

PROJECTS HANDLED

Project Title: Development of City Operation Manual for initiating Arabtec Workers City at Mussafah, Abu Dhabi.

Scope: The project aimed at identifying the scope of operations operation as per facility management, Safety, Security, and welfare requirement of Zones Corp Abu Dhabi

Role in Brief: Preparing and maintaining city operational manual. Approved by Zones Corp in December 2016. 

Project Title: Mobilization of 6000 workmen from Different camps to Al Salam City Camp Abu Dhabi

Scope: responsible for preparing and implementation of overall plan 

Role in Brief: prepared master plan and implemented as per the instructions and requirements. Coordinated with different internal departments for mobilization.

Achievement: Management appreciated the work 

      Executive-Employee Welfare 4ETA Ascon Star Groups of Companies, ETA, Abu Dhabi (Jun’10- Jul’14)

Key Deliverables

• Conducted behavior skill and other soft skill Training for Technician and workmen at Engineering Vertical Level in all overseas divisions.
• Planned and designed various welfare activities entailing organization of different welfare events & sports activities, blood donation drives, can collection drives etc.  to boost up morale of workers
• Monitored and started welfare activities by constituting welfare and cultural committees.
• Initiated Employee’s Grievance Cell for registering grievances of employees and suggesting different appropriate authorities to provide solutions. 
• Commenced in- house newsletter for enhancing knowledge and information of employees on current affairs.
• Monitored different recreation and leadership building clubs like toastmasters’ club, etc.; involved in designing of events for children and spouses of employees.
• Handled training and capacity building of employees having poor performances, etc.; conducted various research studies for management on absenteeism, occupational Health etc.
• Conducted basic orientation program on Health, Safety and Basic UAE Laws for new migrant employees and 
• Monitored and provided counseling to employees resigned from company with other respective departments.

Major Highlights

• Started Workmen Grievance Cell at ETA Engineering Vertical, Publication of Biannual Newsletter, handled workmen strikes.
• Contributed to company’s efforts towards achievement of Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award (Gold) in 2013, OSHAS 18001 certification and many others from time to time. 
• Provided soft skill training sessions on IMS basics, code of conduct, and other personality development topics to more than 150 technicians and Workmen.
• Organized number of events with Abu Dhabi Blood Bank, sports and recreations programs, cultural programs, Best room and best camp award ceremony with and exposure visit to workmen as a part of welfare initiative.
• Started ETA Community Toastmaster club for developing leadership and public speaking skills of staff of ETA. 

Program Officer 4 Aide et Action (AeA) - South Asia Programs, (India) Oct’08- Apr’10

Key Deliverables

• Collaborated with Microsoft Inc. Ltd. and established New Computer Application Study Programs in different I LEAD Centers of Jharkhand
• Coordinated and lead the team working at Link Worker Scheme (a Joint Program of UNDP and NACO) in Rajasthan
• Monitored all Institutes of Livelihood Education and Development I LEAD Center in Jharkhand and Rajasthan 
• Identified new projects in line with AEA’S country strategy by conducting feasibility studies.
• Opened first I LEAD Centre in West Bengal in collaboration with SGSY (Ministry of Rural Development) Government of India
• Took short & long-term consultancies on behalf of Aide et Action like conducting Employability Potential Assessment and Individual Development Profiling. 
• Liaised with Government Agencies to help NGO Partners/DIPs to achieve goals of sustainability.

2024                                         NEBOSH International General Certification in Occupational Health and Safety 

                                                  National Examination Board in Occupational Health and Safety (UK) 

                                                  SENIOR PROFESSIONAL IN HUMAN RESOURCE -SPHR® 

                                               (Human Resource Certification Institute, USA) 

2003                                    M.A (Medical and Psychiatric Social Work) from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

                                                                            Awarded with Gold Medal in M.A (Social Work) 

2001                                    B.A. (Hons.)  from Faculty of Arts, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

IT Skills:                               MS Office Suite (Word, Excel & PowerPoint, Publication, Visio), Aconex and other Applications

License and Certifications-     ISO 45001: 2018 OH&SMS Auditor/Lead Auditor Training Course.