Coca Cola China offers pollution hazard pay to attract top talent

The giant USA Coca Cola corporation is offering a wage premium ‘environmental hardship allowance’ in order to attract top talent to its Harbin city plant now under construction.

The massive new plant in Harbin City began construction last month, and will cost some $100 million to build at a time when highly qualified expat workers are leaving China in droves due to the excessive levels of pollution. The environmental hazard bonus is expected to be at least 15 per cent on the base salary, and is aimed at retaining present talent as well as attracting new expat professionals.

Coca Cola is the second major international corporation to offer the allowance and is following in the footsteps of Japan’s electronics giant Panasonic, which announced a similar scheme in April. Air pollution is now considered the most serious human resources challenge in China, with only three out of its 74 major industrial cities meeting the Chinese government’s pollution standards in 2013.

Foreign companies with bases in Chinese cities are now providing higher-level medical insurance, help with the expense of air filters and extra paid trips back home in order to entice the experienced expat staff they need as well as to prevent top talent from leaving. In addition, many are installing giant air purifiers across their workplaces.