Chinese steel manufacturer in Ethiopia improves local workers' livelihood

With the current good market in Ethiopia, a Chinese reinforcing bar (rebar) manufacturer, East Steel, is boosting its rebar production in the country.

East Steel factory, which is a leading rebar manufacturer in Ethiopia, has been built at the Eastern Industrial Zone in Dukem town about 35 km south of Addis Ababa, capital of the East African nation.

Having completed the construction of the plant in September 2012, East Steel commenced operation in September 2013.

The factory has the capacity of manufacturing about 20, 000 tons of rebars monthly under normal condition that is with consistent supply of raw material and without power interruption, according to Yang Wei, General Manager of East Steel.

The General Manager told Xinhua that the Factory is manufacturing rebars of different sizes for construction of roads, railways, airports, dam and other infrastructures.

The Factory is operating with raw material imported mainly from Ukraine, Russia, and China, according to the General Manager.

Yang noted that the workers, of whom more than 180 are local employees, are working on two shifts.

Some of the employees told Xinhua that they have improved their livelihoods with the earnings at East Steel.

Bayissa Beyene is a human resource officer at the factory, where he has worked for more than one and half years.

Bayissa said he is very happy about his work and the local youth are being benefited from their work at East Steel.

"It is now about one year and six months since I started working here. The operation and everything is very nice here. As you can see it, we are working hard here. And things are going on smoothly," he said.

"It is very good. I was a day laborer when I first joined the company, since I got a first degree, I was promoted to the current position. By working here, I have really improved my livelihood. I am at good status now," said Bayissa.

Sileshi Kasu is another local staff, who has been working with East Steel since the establishment of the plant.

The worker told Xinhua that he is earning much better than the payment he was getting with his previous employers.

" I'm working here at the loading area. I have been here for more than three years. The benefit that I get here is beyond imagination; I was paid only Birr 325 (about 16 U.S. dollars)with my previous employer, it was too difficult for me to cover family spending. But, here with the Chinese, we can earn better according to our work, we get about Birr 3,000 (147 dollars) to 4,000 (196 dollars); and we are leading good life," said Sileshi.

Sileshi added the most important benefit of working at East Steel is that the local workers can improve their working skills and learn to do jobs in a more effective way. Endi