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Nokia 1200 to be assembled at Jucu by 160 workers

Nokia, the world's largest mobile telephone producer, inaugurated its first terminal assembly line for the production of its 1200 model, one of four low-cost phones made available by the Finnish company.

Juha Putkiranta, Senior Vice President of Nokia, and John Guerry, Director of Nokia Romania, participated in the inauguration with local and county authorities. Putkiranta said he could not indicate how long Nokia would stay in Jucu, but that he hoped it would be a long-term investment. 'We are delighted that the people of Romania share our vision, and are eager to work for Nokia', Business Standard quotes Putkiranta as saying. The President of trade union, Cartel Alfa Cluj, Grigore Pop, said that he is hoping Nokia's management in Jucu will negotiate a collective working contract within two weeks. Clauses in the contract would ensure that Nokia employees in Romania would not be subject to a similar situation as the Bochum employees. The company will employ some 160 assemblers, and this number of employees will be doubled to ensure sufficient staff for loading/unloading, technical quality control, management, and other departments. 'We are starting with a limited number of models, the first of which is the Nokia 1200. To begin with, we will assemble very simple models,' stated Juha Putkiranta, Senior Vice President, Demand Supply Network Management Nokia, quoted by Ziarul financiar, who was present at the factory in Jucu. The phones made in Romania will go to markets in Europe, Africa and the Middle East starting this quarter. The model assembled in Jucu sells for around 40 euros on the domestic market. Nokia's representatives would not comment on the number of units that will be produced in Romania, for confidentiality reasons. 'The factory in Cluj will become an important part of our global manufacturing network and will operate using the same processes and under the same standards and quality requirements as every Nokia factory,' Putkiranta added. During the event that marked the start of production, Juha Putkiranta addressed the Finnish ambassador to Romania, Tapio Saarela, and informed him that he was holding in his hand the first phone made in Cluj. Although Nokia officials inaugurated the first assembly line, the official opening of the facility will take place in the third quarter of this year. Only one assembly line will be operational for now, on which the Nokia 1200 will be assembled. 'We chose Cluj because of its very good position close to developing markets, because of its industrial and technological tradition that helped us recruit staff and because we felt it was important to create this industrial park that allows our partners to join us,' Putkiranta said. 'The area will become extremely high-tech,' Nokia's vice-president concluded. The new Nokia factory officially launched operations with 350 direct employees who are involved in management, administration and manufacturing. The mix of staff includes Romanians, Indians, Americans and Finns, although the majority are locals from towns in the surrounding area, such as Jucu, Dej, Gherla and Cluj-Napoca. 'We are hiring every week,' stated John Guerry, manager of the Jucu factory. The first assembly line was launched with Romanian personnel, working as 'key operators' after being trained abroad. In turn, they will train the new employees. The first assembly line takes up very little space inside the factory, which is still being prepared for optimum use. Employees have their own lockers and amenities, such as showers and a cafeteria. The assembly line operators' task is to assemble the phones, put them in boxes and weigh the final product. Officials of the Finnish group would not reveal the wages of Romanian staff, but stated that employees received a salary that is competitive on the Romanian market, as well as benefit packages that include luncheon vouchers and a hot meal on the factory premises. Sursa: http://www.rompress.ro

Tags: nokia would employees factory romania putkiranta assembled first assembly

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