Peter Henriques - General Manager of BAT in East Asia Area

BAT Vietnam has won the 2016 HR Awards in the Manpower Planning and Resourcing category. On the occasion, Peter Henriques, general manager of BAT, East Asia, speaks about the award and what he thinks about Vietnamese human resources.

How do you feel now after getting the award?

I feel excited now. It is the first time we have won this kind of award in Viet Nam. Looking at all our efforts and activities to encourage people to apply and stay at BAT, this is a wonderful achievement for the HR department. At BAT, HR is not just for a department, it is for the whole company. Everybody has responsibility for HR, from those working at the desk to staff members in the factories.

What are the most important elements in BAT's HR strategies?

It is how we motivate our people. And HR is responsible for motivating people. BAT has stayed and got success in Viet Nam over the past three decades. It is not because of our system or process, it is because of our people. Currently the proportion of local senior personnel at BAT Vietnam is over 95 per cent. It means Vietnamese make it successful. Every single employee at BAT in Viet Nam has the responsibility to drive the company forward. It is not my job. This is a job for all employees, from guys working in the field and farmers to sales representative as well as people in the head office.

How can BAT enhance its HR strategy to acquire the most talented team?

In order to have the right talent, BAT has devised new strategies for planning and recruiting personnel, focusing on three major aspects. The company has built an authentic talent brand, developed a new acquisition team and assessment tools and has refreshed the engagement programme for new staff members. Notably, our HR strategy is done based on market data and analysis, and through the company's operational structure.

What are the strengths of Vietnamese workers?

Mr. Peter Henriques (1st R) and CEOs of MNCs and local companies take part in a panel discussion titled "Integrated Mindset", bringing a new perspective for businesses during a new wave of AEC and TPP integration in three respects: technology, sales, and people management.

I have been here for almost five years and impressed every single day by the Vietnamese work ethic. This is an incredible culture. There is nothing I think Vietnamese cannot do; they can do anything they put their mind to. Regardless of education levels or income levels, everybody is working and moving forward. That is an attitude you don't see in many countries around the world.

How about weaknesses? 

We do not look at weaknesses; we look at how big the opportunities are. Viet Nam has a young population. That comes with many opportunities such as good education, good local universities and the return of people studying overseas. In addition, the economy is growing with many opportunities from the free trade agreements Viet Nam has signed. Therefore, the workforce needs to grow to meet the demands.

Peter Henriques (1st Left), general manager of BAT in East Asia Area, and representatives of BAT Vietnam receive the award trophy from Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Trong Dam.

What I really see is that the Government has put in place the foundation. The Government is developing further language training and English is already a main language in the curriculum. That is a very wise policy since languages are very important for Vietnamese to work outside Viet Nam.

Besides, I do not see Vietnamese having any problems in competing with employees from other countries. The key thing is that they are smart, have a strong work ethic, an entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to learn.