OREANDA-NEWS. With more than 90% of construction completed, almost 5,000 employees, including Vale personnel and service providers, are currently working on the project. Of these, more than 50% are Malaysian.

Vale, in partnership with the Malaysian government, is recruiting local labour to work in the port. One hundred and thirty-four young people, approved by Vale's Apprenticeship Program in Malaysia, have already signed contracts and have been working in a variety of technical areas at the ore distribution centre in Teluk Rubiah since January.

Prior to permanent appointment, the group underwent training on operational, mechanical and electrical requirements, with the emphasis on health and safety standards. A number of these apprentices were also given the opportunity to visit Vale's operations in Brazil for a series of practical Maintenance and Operation activities at the Port of Tubarao, in Espirito Santo. “I believe that the time spent in Brazil helped me gain the necessary experience to perform well here in Malaysia,” says Kumeresan Arjunan, 23, one of the 60 trainees in the group that came to Brazil in 2013.

This investment in training local labour is in keeping with Vale's commitment to create local job opportunities and provide vocational training leading to employment in our operations. “This policy of creating conditions conducive to the development of the affected communities, either through the creation of job and income opportunities or programs of social, corporate and environmental responsibility, forms part of our commitment to sustainability,” explains Vale Malaysia director Marcelo Figueiredo.