– Many residents of Khanbogd soum are working at Oyu Tolgoi –
The motherland starts from the soum. The development of our country and citizens also starts at soum level. If soum residents have jobs and income and live a satisfactory life, then development will start from there. Now, thatdevelopment has arrived in Khanbogd soum of South Gobi province in its true sense. Today, the name of Khanbogd is known throughout the world, because of Oyu Tolgoi. The world-class mine working nearby has brought progress and development for Khanbogd residents. We can evaluate the scale of this development on the basis of changes and progress in the lives of individuals. This can only be shown with actual facts and figures illustrating every area of change.
Today, many people from Khanbogd soum are working at Oyu Tolgoi. They are working in diverse jobs ranging from drivers to warehouse clerks, concentrate samplers, community relations staff, equipment operators, mechanics and repairmen. Some have been working with OT for almost ten years while some are young people who have just joined OT. All these employees have family members who rely on them. This means that Oyu Tolgoi is creating a better life for many households of this soum. There are many hard-working youth from Khanbogd working at Oyu Tolgoi. One of them is D.Munkhtur, a driver from the transportation department of Oyu Tolgoi LLC. He says “I have been working at Oyu Tolgoi as a driver since 2011. I’m just one of the local residents who work here and enjoy a better life as a result. We are satisfied and have confidence about our future. There are examples of people who have been promoted and of couples working here together.
In addition to people working here, there are many more who want to work here. Working in a mining company requires professional skills and knowledge. This is the biggest obstacle currently faced by youth of Khanbogd soum. However, Oyu Tolgoi company is addressing this obstacle through many different approaches. It will take a long time to describe all these efforts.
One example is the Human resources and training department and Regional development and social performance departments of Oyu Tolgoi are jointly implementing a comprehensive programme to support the employment of local residents of Khanbogd, Manlai and Bayan-Ovoo soums. This is focused on local residents who have been actively seeking jobs in the last two years. This programme was needed as local residents had less opportunity to participate in training and faced financial difficulties. Also, new graduates lacked foreign language knowledge and skills. This programme aims to improve the competitiveness in the labour market and provide opportunities for local residents living in the mine impact region. It helps to promote sustainable employment and jobs and improve skills.
This year, the first stage of the programme, an english language training course, took place. As a result of the six month training most of the trainees have successfully completed the course. The company also organised a tour to visit Oyu Tolgoi mine and an opportunity to see the lives and work of miners.
Yo.Mendmaa, a member of recruitment staff at Oyu Tolgoi LLC said: “Local residents actively participated in the programme. Although the ages and jobs of the participants varied, people who were active participants have successfully completed the course. Professional teachers arrived in the local area and conducted the training for six months and this was seen by local residents as a good opportunity to learn. They say that knowledge is gained through persistence. Individuals achieves success when they work hard and committed to success. We’ve prepared the soil to grow flowers and planted the seeds. Now we only need to water them.”
As well as English language training, a module called “preparation for employment” was organised in partnership with the Central Labor market which provided comprehensive information on development, professional attitude and communication skills.
Mongolians say: “If an individual tries hard, then fate chooses him.” Many people who were involved in the programme last year now have jobs.
G.Ankhbayar who participated in the programme is now working as a lubrication technician at the Oyu Tolgoi concentrator plant. His future is very bright and he will be working side by side with the best young personnel of a world-class mine.
Many young people who participated in the programme are likely to find employment and gain confidence for their future. Preparation for the next stage of the programme is now underway which will provide technical training. This will be conducted at the Vocational Educational centre in Khanbogd soum.
Oyu Tolgoi mine and Khanbogd residents are building their future and developing together. This is only the beginning. There is a long road ahead and the future is getting brighter day by day.
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