Tailors Abandon Just-Opened Makhinjauri Textile Factory

“For our government we are old people,” they stated.

Several months ago, Georgian President, Mikheil Saakashvili, opened Makhinjauri Textile Factory in triumph. However, most employees of the enterprise are going to abandon the job.

Opening the factory the President stated that the event would serve the development of economy and creation of working places in the district. Tailors said they are going to abandon jobs because of unbearable situation in the factory, their slavery treatment by Turkish investor and short salaries. Representatives of the authority said that employees of the factory are being trained at the moment and as soon as the training finishes their salaries will increase.

In January 2007 Turkish citizen, Nuri Sar purchased the Makhinjauri Textile Factory for 60 thousand lari. Accountant Nana Kakabadze said that 180 people are currently employed at the factory. Each of them receives a salary of 120 lari. Kakabadze said that everything is in order in the factory. However, when we decided to have a conversation with tailors, Kakabadze said that during working hours she did not have right to waste workers’ time. Consequently, it was impossible to get into the factory. “If you are eager to speak with them, I can call one of them,” said Kakabadze.

The accountant allowed only “selected” employees to speak with us. Famous tailor, Makvala Bolkvadze met us. A month ago, Bolkvadze wished to see singer Toto Kutunio in Batumi and Georgian President made her dream come true. By the way, Battumi City Hall paid 100 000 lari for the concert. “I wish I asked the President for something else; for example a good job. If I had one more chance I would have asked the President to invite Baskov. Generally, I think that if they want to attract foreign tourists in Batumi, they should invite many singers here even though local government has to pay millions for it. I cannot understand why people disliked Kutunio’s arrival in Batumi…”

The administration of the factory found another employee who was pleased with her job. It was Lia Safaridze who was allowed to speak with us. “There are proper conditions for our work in the factory. They give us lunch during the break. There is only one problem; we do not have air-conditioners but the boss told us they have already purchased air-conditioners and twill soon be installed. 120 lari is really small salary but they promise to increase our salaries next month.”

Since they did not allow me to enter the factory because I was a journalist, we managed to meet several tailors in the yard. Initially they did not want to speak with media sources but we promised to keep their names anonymous and they started to speak. “Journalists have already been here but they did not allow them to meet us. One of our workers said the truth, but on the next day she was fired. Of course, the fault on her work was immediately discovered. Thus we do not want to speak the truth,” explained the tailors.

Unlike Lia Safaridze, they complained about unbearable situation in the factory and most of them are going to leave job. “Personally I am waiting for the salary and then I will leave the job. I do not think anybody will remain here. The person who does not know the situation in the factory might start work here. They have seized our chairs not to sit on. We are working on our feet during thirteen hours. It is horrible. But these people will always accept new employees. New-comers will be pupils who will work for sixty lari a month. We are young people, we live nearby and preferred to start working here rather then to stay at home unemployed; but we cannot stand the situation anymore,” said one of the women.

Other tailors also spoke about the situation in the factory. “Yesterday I felt ill. We have a small room and I entered there for a little rest but they rebuked me for it. If I am dying, do not I have right to have a rest for at least two minutes?”

“In addition to that they have some complaints. They need young employees. We are old people for them,” said middle-aged woman.

“According to our labor contracts we must work from 9:00 AM till 6:00 PM but on Saturday we must work till 2:00 PM. Despite that, when goods must be exported from the factory, we have to work till 10:00 PM. Sometimes we work on Sundays too,” complained the women.

Tamaz Shavadze, representative of the Adjara Ministry of Finances and Economy, stated that Turkish investment in textile industry has become too important for the region and it is very positive for local economy. “Textile industry is profitable for us because it employs many people, though they cannot pay high salaries to employees. Makhinjauri factory was opened recently. They are still teaching workers. In fact, the factory is kind of vocational institution. Afterwards, when these people learn their profession, the administration will accept them at permanent work and salaries will be increased till 300-400 lari. As for complaints, Georgian people lack the discipline. The situation resulted from recent great unemployment in the country. Consequently, many people cannot put up with severe demands of entrepreneurs,” said Tamaz Shavadze.

Emzar Diasamidze, Batumi