US giant Delphi that derives annual turnover worth over 16bn euros has chosen the Miroslava area in Iasi county for an investment worth more than 100m euros, set to generate 1,500 new jobs. Ieseanul weekly writes about how the investment has been changing life in the local community.
Until the Miroslava project is finished, the Americans already have 200 employees in a centre located in Tehnoton area and are going to move their operations in Miroslava next year.
John Hutson, manager of the plant, has worked for 28 years with Delphi, since he was a student - for 18 years in Europe and four years in Romania. Before coming to the helm of the Iasi-based business, he set up the plant of Ineu. Hutson spends twelve hours a day at the plant. He does not have his own office, but shares one with the head of the Communication department.
Hutson will not disclose the average gross wage at the plant, but says that it is a "competitive one". He does not speak about the turnover projected for the operations in Iasi, but describes how people are hired: through the Internet, agencies, job fairs or collaboration with the Technical University, one of the factors that mattered when Iasi was chosen as a location for the plant.
The Americans are particularly in search of engineers, with different training. After being hired, these recruits are sent abroad to train, in Spain, France and Great Britain.
"Around half of the people working here have attended such training programmes. They have a contract binding them not to leave our plant for a period of time. If they do, they have to pay compensation," explains Hutson.
At the end of this year, the company will have 250-260 employees and next year there will be 750 people, with the final figure expected to reach 1,500.
He tactfully avoids the issue of Miroslava being chosen over Iasi: "We needed a large plot of land, with easy access and this was the best choice". With regard to the financial crisis Hutson says: "This investment has not been hurt. The hiring process will continue as planned".
The team in Iasi is complemented by Romanian managers Sandu Butnaru, Silviu Arhire and Cristian Teodoru.
While in Romania Delphi's plans are expanding, at home, in Michigan, the company has had difficulties for several years.
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