Both blast furnaces in Hesteel operational – Several hundred new workers needed, first contests soon

Both blast furnaces in the Hesteel Serbia steel mill are operational, and the company should employ several hundred workers more in the facilities due to increased production, said representatives of the steel mill's trade union and added that the first contests will be organized in early January 2017.

– Several hundred workers more are needed and we expect the job contests to be organized as soon as early January. We need welders, crane drivers, operators, electricians... – said the president of the Association of Free and Independent Trade Unions at Hesteel Serbia, Sasa Colic, and added that the workers are ready to step up the production in the coming period.

Colic emphasized that the new employer had brought knowledge and money, as well as new rationalization and optimization of the production and reduced expenses. He expects new procurement procedures and the production of around 1.6 million tons in the next year.

The president of the Autonomous Trade Union at Hesteel Serbia, Sinisa Prelic, said that the workers are finally satisfied with the new employer and that they are giving their best, after several difficult years.

– We are capable of achieving the planned results. The workers are relaxed and there are no problems on the front. What the workers missed was a true employer – Prelic said and pointed out that the new employer will provide a modern organization of operations.

He confirmed that the wages had been increased in October and that they were at a satisfactory level at the moment, being higher than those in similar companies in the area.

– We believe that the profit will lead to higher earnings as well – Prelic said.

He also said that the production in the steel mill would be automatized in the next period and that the company would get new facilities and possibly a new line for finished products.

HBIS GROUP Iron & Steel d.o.o. Beograd

Association of Free and Independent Trade Unions

Autonomous Trade Union

Smederevo steel mill

Zelezara Smederevo

blast furnace

steel mill production

welders

crane drivers

operators

electricians

Sasa Colic

Sinisa Prelic