RADHICA DE SILVA
Senior Multimedia Reporter
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Labour Minister Stephen Mc Clashie says the Government will investigate why Cemex Trinidad Cement Ltd (TCL) has opted to bring in 35 Mexican workers to service its kilns, despite the presence of competent locals with the necessary specialised skills.
This follows reports that a contractor hired by Cemex, the Mexican cement giant controlling about 70 per cent of TCL shares, imported workers to perform refractory (brick) changes in the kiln as part of scheduled maintenance.
Sources revealed to Guardian Media that these workers, staying at Cara Suites, were chosen over local and Venezuelan counterparts.
Speaking to Guardian Media, Mc Clashie expressed surprise at the reports and pledged a thorough investigation.
He also stressed the availability and competence of local refractory contractors, questioning the justification behind Cemex TCL decisions.
“I am not aware of the the details as enunciated by you or whether the story is true… if it were then I would be surprised as to the justification being given… Refractory work and refractory contractors are available in Trinidad and they are very competent," Mc Clashie said.
He added: "I’ll have to take a deeper dive into the circumstances."
But in response, TCL confirmed that "35 people who are part of a company contracted by TCL and supported by 175 local contractors came into T&T to perform highly specialised works related to scheduled maintenance at its Claxton Bay plant.
"The process, which is a manual one, demands specifically skilled manpower with the expertise and experience to handle the complex and hazardous conditions inside the company’s kilns," TCL said.
The specialized work involves the replacement of special bricks that can withstand the high temperatures and pressures inside these cylindrical kilns that produce clinker, the main ingredient of cement.
"These are installed with precision and care, following strict safety protocols. This work is necessary to ensure the safety and efficiency of the kilns, and ultimately, the quality and consistency of the local TCL cement brand. The best practice is to undergo this exercise every 12 to 18 months for 20 to 25 days (per kiln. Total of 2) depending on the wear and tear of the bricks and kiln," TCL explained.
Saying that it values the support of local contractors in the areas of engineering, supervision, masonry, and welding for this maintenance work, TCL said: "Given the unique demands and magnitude of the job, and the narrow time frame designed to ensure minimal impact on its operations, these additional highly specialised contractors are necessary to achieve overall business objectives."
The company also said the experts are part of a specialised workforce that travels around the Caribbean and Latin America, working for the cement industry, not only for Cemex and the TCL Group.
"We continue to focus on offering an engaging, inclusive, and stimulating environment for our people, where our more than 300 collaborators, 95 per cent of which are local, can reach their full potential," the company said.
TCL also said it offers a wide range of training and development programmes on an ongoing basis with over 72,000 hours of training conducted in 2023.