Nokia to start production on Monday

Finnish group Nokia will launch its new mobile phone assembly line at its first Romanian plant on Monday, February 11. “This is an important moment for the company, which precedes the official opening of the plant, due to take place later this year”, said John Guerry, manager of Nokia Romania. The new assembly line will employ 200 production personnel and 100 management personnel. Staff will begin by working one single shift, but switch to two from March. In fact, the shift system is one of the legislative hurdles that Nokia’s management is faced with. The manager of the new plant recently asked the Labour Minister, Paul Pacuraru, to improve the legislation and reduce the number of shifts. “Nokia wants to work with a smaller number of shifts, namely two per day, while the current legislation provides for three,” said the minister. Nokia has requested this modification, as the transfer of workers to the plant in Jucu has proved problematic, and prompted the Finnish company to suggest a two-shift system. The salary offered to production staff amounts to 800 RON (gross sum), whilst workers also receive lunch at the plant, as well as luncheon vouchers. At present, the company is still in the process of recruiting production personnel. The mobiles assembled at the Jucu plant are destined to countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and also the domestic market, Nokia officials revealed.