(26 June 2014 – Hong Kong) New World Department Store China Limited (“NWDS” or the “Company”; Hong Kong stock code: 825), one of the largest owners and operators of department stores in the PRC, is pleased to announce that the Company has garnered the honor of “Family-Friendly Employers 2013/14” in the “2013/14 Family-Friendly Employers Award Scheme” for the second consecutive time, and been given the “Special Mention” award, in recognition of the Company’s continuous effort in implementing family-friendly policies and measures; meanwhile, the Company has been granted the Bronze Award for Volunteer Service by “Volunteer Movement” of the Social Welfare Department for its devotion to promoting volunteer culture and fostering healthy lifestyle among employees. These honors fully demonstrate that the Company endeavors to promote pro-family working environment and care for employees’ all-round development.

NWDS firmly believes employees are invaluable asset to the Company. With the conviction of nurturing talents with respect, care and trust, the Company takes initiatives to implement family-friendly measures, such as the provision of body check allowance, birthday leave, paternity leave, lunch allowance, marriage leave and examination leave. Furthermore, the Company distributes gifts to all employees as festive blessings on major festivals and arranges special meals to staff on duty on holidays to express the Company’s warmest regards. On the other hand, staff-caring activities are frequently organized to enhance employees’ sense of belonging to the Company. Last April, the Company launched a year-long “Caring Our Staff” cultural campaign, which includes arranging senior management to experience in frontline positions, organizing supervisor-subordinate interactive tea-breaks and commending outstanding employees; this year we move a step further to distribute anti-fog face masks and apples to all staff members to extend our corporate culture of caring for staff.

“Family-Friendly Employers Award Scheme” was introduced by the Family Council in 2011 and is organized on a biannual basis, aiming to raise employers’ awareness of the importance of family core values and to foster a pro-family culture in the society. Judging panel selects outstanding family-friendly employers according to numerous criteria, including their family-friendly employment policies, measures and its rationale, benefits created for the companies and their employees, and the level of management commitment. NWDS has been awarded as the “Family-Friendly Employers” for the second consecutive time, and given the “Special Mention” award, recognizing the Company’s effort in promoting a pro-family culture and environment.

Meanwhile, NWDS attaches great importance to the development of its employees’ total well-being, and established NWDS Volunteer Team last year to encourage them to actively participate in volunteer service to build good civic awareness. As of now, the volunteer team has recruited over 2,300 people and organized more than 360 volunteer activities featuring community services and environmental protection, contributing approximately 9,000 service hours in total. Performed 381 hours of community service last year, Hong Kong volunteer team of 20 people won the Bronze Award for Volunteer Service issued by “Volunteer Movement” of the Social Welfare Department, acknowledging its contribution to the society. “Volunteer Movement” was established by the Social Welfare Department in 1998. Every year, it presents awards to commend outstanding individual volunteers, families and corporate volunteer teams based on their total number of service hour, so as to facilitate volunteer development.

Ms. Rebecca Woo, Corporate Affairs Director and Chairman of Sustainability Steering Committee of NWDS, said, “The Company places great emphasis on employees’ family harmony and total well-being. Therefore, we pioneer to devise various thoughtful family-friendly policies to build a harmonious employer-employee relationship. At the same time, the Company also focuses on employees’ work-life balance. Not only do we frequently organize a wide range of interest classes and recreational activities for employees, but we also highly encourage them to take part in volunteer work together with their family members to enrich life and broaden their horizon, joining hands to serve the needy and give back to the society. In the future, the Company will strive to be a good corporate citizen by continuing to optimize staff benefits and policies, and actively undertaking corporate social responsibility.”

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