Displaying items by tag: Jobs

India: Local people have launched a protest outside Wonder Cement's Kherwas grinding plant in Madhya Pradesh. The Free Press Journal has reported that the protestors are requesting that the company provide more jobs to people from the plant's host community. They stated their intent in memoranda submitted to the plant management and the local government. Local rules require companies operating plants in the area to appoint applicants from the local community to 75% of plant jobs.

Wonder Cement is a subsidiary of Rajasthan-based RK Group.

India: Dalmia Cement (Bharat) plans to invest US$560m following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Assam government on the construction of a new cement plant in the state. The Economic Times newspaper has reported that the producer expects the project to generate a total of 2500 new jobs.

Managing director and chief executive officer Mahendra Singhi said “This year also marks the 10th anniversary of Dalmia Bharat’s manufacturing presence in Northeast India. We remain deeply committed to continuing to be a partner in the region’s economic progress." He continued "The Northeast region has showcased a very forward-leaning mindset, being one of the fastest adaptors of low-carbon blended cement. The penetration of Low Carbon Green Cement is in line with our vision of becoming carbon negative by 2040, and further intensifies our commitment towards the Grey to Green movement.”

Canada: Heidelberg Materials and the Canadian government have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the installation of a carbon capture system at the company’s Edmonton cement plant in Alberta. The project is scheduled for completion in 2026, at a total cost of US$1.01bn. When operational, the system will capture 100% of the Edmonton cement plant’s CO₂ emissions - 1Mt/yr – for transportation and storage in nearby Wabamun. Canada Newswire has reported that construction of the system will create 2000 jobs.

The government said that it would be a ‘significant partner’ for the project. The size of funding will depend on other provisions under its Investment Tax Credit for Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage scheme, which is currently being finalised.

Argentina: Holcim Argentina has announced the launch of its Young Leaders youth professional development programme in its host provinces of Córdoba, Buenos Aires, Jujuy and Mendoza. The programme seeks to identify 15 'innovative, curious and results-oriented' young talents with qualifications and experience in the area of industrial, mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering, business administration, marketing, architecture or logistics. Those chosen will occupy eight-month placements at the company, beginning on 15 May 2023. There, they will manage projects under the guidance of a tutor.

Holcim Argentina's head of talent and development Claudia Vitale said "Young Leaders is specially designed to accelerate young professionals' growth by placing them in a high-performance team. It is an excellent opportunity for personal and professional development in a global industry-leading company."

Afghanistan: The government's Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has awarded a contract for the construction of the 1Mt/yr Shur Andam cement plant in Kandahar Province. TOLO News has reported that planned investments in the project totaled US$100m. The government said that construction will commence before April 2024. Production will begin at a 'low level,' and in the longer term the government expects to employ 5000 people at the site.

Barbados: Arawak Cement has ceased clinker production at its St Lucy cement plant. The facility will continue to operate as a grinding plant. Loop News has reported that the company now seeks to lay off 70% of the plant's staff. Negotiations between the producer and the Barbados Workers' Union are reportedly in 'advanced' stages.

In its previous restructuring in 2016, Arawak Cement offered voluntary separation packages to employees. At that time, 'unfavourable economic conditions globally and in the region' necessitated cost reduction.

Mexico: The National Cement Chamber (CANACEM) has established a collaboration agreement with the State Congress of Jalisco. Under the agreement, the parties will collaborate towards the reduction of CO₂ emissions from the cement sector in the state. Local press has reported that the collaboration will include studies, projects, proposals and legal initiatives.

The state government said that the cement sector drives economic development and supports 20,000 jobs through its vital part in the construction industry.

India: India's 'core industries,' including cement, steel and fossil fuels, employ just 8% women across the total workforce. The Free Press Journal has reported that gender equality body UN Women found the proportion of women to be as low as 3.9% at UltraTech Cement. JSW Cement owner JSW Group employs 5.3% women. Meanwhile, Holcim, which left the Indian market in September 2022, operates with a 13% female global workforce.

Cement companies joined in celebrations of International Women's Day on 8 March 2023.

India: The state government of Himachal Pradesh has announced the forthcoming reopening of Adani Group's Darlaghat and Gagal cement plants. Reuters has reported that truck drivers' unions agreed to a reduced freight rate offered by Adani Group. The producer shut the plants on 15 December 2022, claiming that it faced prohibitively high operating costs, including high freight charges.

Truck drivers will now receive rates of US$0.12/t/km for despatches in small delivery trucks and US$0.11/t/km for dispatches in articulated trucks. Drivers operating at the Darlaghat cement plant previously earned fees of US$0.13/t/km, while those operating at the Gagal cement plant had earned fees of US$0.14/t/km. Adani Group had reportedly sort to lower rates to US$0.07/t/km. Unions have criticised the newly negotiated rates, pointing out the UltraTech Cement recently raised the wages of drivers at its Baga cement plant in the state to US$0.13/t/km.

Zimbabwe: Livetouch Investments plans to build a new 200,000t/yr cement plant in Zvishavane, Midlands Province. The first phase of construction will reach completion in mid-2024 and cost US$20m. When subsequently commissioned, the plant will create 300 new jobs. The Chronicle newspaper has reported that the upcoming plant is situated close to Livetouch Investments' existing limestone resources.

Livetouch Investments' mananging director Kyle Wang said that the company is building the plant in order to reduce Zimbabwe's reliance on imports of cement, notably via Zambia. Zimbabwe already has a cement capacity of 2.6Mt/yr, but a cement demand of just 1.6Mt/yr.