Too few Alutrint jobs for locals
PORT SPAIN
Trinidad & Tobago Guardian
Petroleumworldtt.com
06 22 09
Failed drug tests have been given as one of the contributing reasons why only a few La Brea residents have been hired to work at Alutrint's US$400 million aluminium smelter project, while hundreds more are awaiting jobs. Another contributing factor is an agreement signed with the Government and the People's Republic of China, which gives China the sole right to hire a contractor to build the aluminium smelter. “As part of the government-to-government agreement, the People's Republic of China, as the provider of the US$400 million loan facility to the Government of the Republic of T&T, reserved and exercised the right to identify and hire a contractor with the expertise to build the smelter complex using Chinese technology,” said Josieann Richards, Alutrint's manager of communications and community relations.
Last month, Richards said Alutrint had hired 15 La Brea residents full-time on contract and that the China National Machinery and Equipment Import Export Corporation (CMEC), the engineering and procurement contractor (EPC), had hired just under 200 Chinese workers. La Brea residents have expressed frustration at not being able to secure jobs at the Alutrint project. Richards said Alutrint was very much aware there is a large pool of semi-skilled and skilled workers in the La Brea community and had shared this information with the EPC. Richards said some of these workers could not be hired because they had failed drug tests. Asked how many residents had taken the tests, Richards said Alutrint could not provide any statistics.
“It is difficult to say precisely how many people applied for work with the contractors and subcontractors at the site of the Alutrint smelter complex. Alutrint has on its database alone hundreds of individuals who have submitted applications for work over the last three years or so, and given the pre-existing high levels of unemployment in La Brea and environs, one may safely assume that the average contractor might receive several dozen requests for employment daily.” One La Brea resident, who's in his 30s, submitted his wife's urine to be tested. The test showed that the person to whom the urine belonged was six weeks pregnant.
Richards said tests for urine cocaine, urine marijuana and alcohol are administered as part of the health, safety and environment (HSE) orientation which is mandatory for all seeking employment, either directly with Alutrint or through its EPC contractor or subcontractors. “If tests results for use of any substance return positive, the person may not be employed, as such a person operating under the influence may pose a threat to their own safety as well as that of others on site.” She said people seeking employment who pass the drug test are also asked about their use of any prescription medications for temporary or chronic conditions. This information is used to determine their ability to perform safely the job for which they are being hired.
Richards said in keeping with Alutrint's HSE procedures, all employees and prospective employees are to be tested for use of illicit substances. Maintaining a safe, secure working environment is a priority for the company and no employee or prospective employee is exempted. Richards said Alutrint's records indicate several individuals applying for jobs testing positive for illicit substance and drug use. Asked whether there were other companies which were having difficulties in hiring locals because of this failed drug tests, Richards said: “Alutrint is not aware if foreign companies on the site have encountered the same challenges with respect to drug use. However, if foreign companies are accessing labour from the available resources in the community, it is possible that they may have encountered similar challenges. “Based on feedback from the community, some of the challenges appear to be the very stringent HSE policies being employed, such a zero tolerance for the use of illicit substances and drugs. When it comes to health and safety, there is no room for compromise.”
Story by Radhica Sookraj from Trinidad & Tobago Guardian
Trinidad & Tobago Guardian
June 18, 2009
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