Times Of Swaziland: FIRST 250 EMASWATI START WORK AT KELLOGG’S

FIRST 250 EMASWATI START WORK AT KELLOGG’S
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BY PHIWASE PHUNGWAYO on 15/02/2021 00:04:00


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.