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FIRST 250 EMASWATI START WORK AT KELLOGG’S

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MBABANE – The fortunes of 250 employees at Kellogg’s Tolaram Eswatini will change for the better since the company has hit the ground running.

As soon as recruiting and training its staff members, the Kellogg’s Tolaram Eswatini factory produced its first noodles. The newly-established factory, which is based in Matsapha, has an investment of over E200 million so far. Specifically, the factory produces instant noodles ready for consumption for both the local and export regional markets.

Kellogg’s Tolaram is a joint venture between Kellogg’s, originating from the United States of America and Tolaram, whose headquarters are based in Singapore. 

Last year, this publication reported that the recruitment process was done within the remainder of 2020, and the selected candidates would join the Kellogg Tolaram family in January 2021.

Progress 

Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo was quoted having listed Kellogg’s Tolaram Eswatini as one of the investments in the kingdom that made great progress in terms of establishing their factory.

One of the employees, who is employed as a cleaner, expressed that after two years of being unemployed, this job would help her support her family of four.

The job opportunities at the Kellogg’s Tolaram factory have tremendously changed the lives of emaSwati, as they shared that they would now have financial freedom.

Some of the employees said they were blessed to have been employed as they were now out of the unemployment statistics and this would enable them to live decent lives.

 “For the past two years, I relied on the father of my two children for all our basic necessities. I am happy that finally, I will also make a contribution to my family,” the excited employee said.

Another employee, who is in the administration department, expressed that there was nothing more fulfilling than waking up in the morning and getting ready to go to work. 

“This job will provide me with financial stability and security, which will make my life easier. I will be able to pay my bills on time!” the employee said. 

He added that the job had helped him to become financially independent. The employee said: “This independence isn’t only limited to the finances, it relates to decision-making. Earning money and having an identity brings so much liberty.”

The employee, who is a graduate in one of the country’s main universities, said he had been job-hunting for two years. He said having this job made it easier for him to plan for his future on his own terms and work towards the goals he had set for himself.

Reliable 

“Having this steady, reliable job has given me the security I have been longing for. Now I have stopped worrying about the present and I’m focusing on my future,” he said.

He added that his job would build a history of employment and make his curriculum vitae stronger, which in turn would make it easier to get into bigger industries.

 “The job will help me polish up my skills as I will have the opportunity to learn new skills that I did not learn in tertiary,” he added.

Another employee, who is in the packaging department, said the job was not about merely working for a few hours.

“It is more than that. Doing this job has certainly helped me in fulfilling my purpose. No matter how basic it looks, knowing that I add value to this big organisation which is international, gives me satisfaction, happiness and most definitely, has helped me financially,” she said.  

She elaborated that even her self-esteem had improved because waking up each morning gave her a day-to-day purpose.

Meanwhile, Kellogg’s Tolaram’s Xolile Mbatha said a total of 250 employees at the Eswatini factory were trained. She mentioned that they started commercial production and the products would be in the market in the coming weeks.

“There are various departments in the facility. Some are in the production section and others do administration and support,” said Mbatha.

She added that the factory had 16 500 tonnes of noodles capacity per annum.

Meanwhile, the operations of the new factory will be beneficial in improving the country’s unstable economy, according to an economist who preferred condition of anonymity. 

The economist stated that the manufacturing industry was one of the most influential sectors in the kingdom as it helped support the global and national economies, as well as individuals and families. 

“The operations at the Kellogg’s Tolaram factory will not only provide employment to emaSwati, but will also lead to diversification of the economy of the country and reduce reliance on one type of product,” said the economist.

Self-sufficiency 

He elaborated that this would also lead to self-sufficiency.

“This means that the country will reduce its reliance on imported goods and this can lead to stabilisation of the economy,” the economist said.

He further articulated that this would lead to contribution to the earning of foreign currency to the country. The economist made an example of Japan, which earned a lot of foreign currency because of exporting manufactured products. He said the operations of the factory would stimulate the development of transport and communication like the construction of roads, railways and ports. The economist highlighted that there would be development of other economic activities like tourism and trade. He said expenses on imports would be reduced, as they would be produced locally.

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