“You can’t change your meeting place” – says the young generation at OJSC “Amkodor-KEZ” about their company, half-jokingly. In recent years, the plant has firmly secured the top positions in the ranking of town-forming enterprises of the Tolochin District and has become a desirable place of work for young people.
“You can’t change your meeting place” – says the young generation at OJSC “Amkodor-KEZ” about their company, half-jokingly. In recent years, the plant has firmly secured the top positions in the ranking of town-forming enterprises of the Tolochin District and has become a desirable place of work for young people.
In the workshop, we meet Anastasia Medvedskaya and Ivan Blagoderov. The young people are former classmates, graduates of the Kokhanovo Secondary School. Both have a year of experience at the plant. The young woman graduated from the Vitebsk Technological University and returned to the plant as an economist for planning. Ivan, after graduating from the Belarusian-Russian University, joined as a process engineer. In a year, he has advanced to the position of Head of the Design Department:
— I am glad they believed in me, although I was worried about how I would cope. The mentoring support from senior colleagues helped. The work is interesting, and there is a lot of new things ahead. It’s good when there are such production facilities in small settlements like ours – it’s better to live and work in your native places.
The interest of young people in working at the enterprise did not arise out of nowhere. Children from all over the district regularly come here for excursions. Many have relatives working here, who share their opinions about the prospects of the production. Even luckier are the children of the plant workers. From the 3rd to the 11th grade, for good grades (with an average academic performance for the quarter of at least 9 points), they are paid a monthly scholarship – one basic unit. Currently, 12 "Amkodor children" receive it – this is how potential successors of family labour dynasties are called here. Everyone is aware of how the plant is doing, what its prospects and opportunities are, says another young specialist, test driver Andrey Klimovich, joining the conversation. He is also from the local area and started working recently. The young man sets ambitious goals for himself, intending to improve his professional skills:
— Management provides opportunities for professional development, retraining, and acquiring a related specialty. We have vivid examples of other factory workers who built careers from scratch. Plus, a generous social package and a genuinely family-like atmosphere in the team. This attracts people, especially young individuals. Therefore, I consider the plant a good place to start. Everything else depends on me; I just need to try hard.
In the welding shop, we meet 18-year-old Andrey Alekhno. He has been working here since August. Originally from Kokhanovo, he graduated from the Orsha Polytechnic College with a degree in "Electro-gas Welder." The young man shares:
— I had choices about where to go. But I was lucky – there is a strong enterprise in my district. Housing is not an issue for me; I live in my parents' house. The average salary is 1,500 rubles, which is quite good for a beginner in the profession. Working conditions are excellent. Look around: the shop is tidy, and there is new, modern equipment everywhere. I am satisfied.
Many people know firsthand about the conditions at the plant, says Elena Podolitskaya, Deputy Director of the enterprise:
— The President visited here, familiarised himself with the production, and positively assessed what he saw. This has spurred the interest of young people in the plant, and for us, it has become an additional incentive in our work.
Denis Alexandrov, Deputy Director – Chief Engineer, confirms:
— The visit of Alexander Lukashenko last year largely predetermined the development vector of production. The discussion focused on the market's needs for reclamation machinery. We emphasised this in our subsequent work, significantly expanding the product range. Production volumes have also increased; currently, our capacities are fully utilised. We strive to meet our plans and not let down our customers.
The implementation of two important investment projects is planned for the future. One is related to the production of a 100% domestic bulldozer, with its prototypes already undergoing testing. The second will be implemented under the "One District – One Project" program, initiated by the President. Expansion of production capacities is planned, which will allow for a threefold increase in the number of manufactured units (up to 30 units per month) and the creation of new jobs. The demand for the plant's products in both the domestic and Russian markets is growing, so new workers are greatly needed, emphasises Denis Alexandrov:
— It is important that the work on modernizing and developing production is ongoing. For example, a new excavator model is currently undergoing trials. It is being used side-by-side with a similar imported machine for cleaning drainage canals and is performing commendably. Sanctions have spurred us to promptly reorient the procurement of necessary components from Europe to Asia. We are actively developing relations with China. As a result, we have acquired new reliable partners who supply quality and cheaper goods. As for Europeans, one can only sympathize: politics there takes precedence to the detriment of the economy and the real interests of their own population.
"SB"
Source: vitebsk-region.gov.by
