The town-forming enterprise of Obukhov (Kyiv region) Kyiv Cardboard and Paper Mill (KKBK) predicts the possibility of stopping the work of the enterprise in case of total mobilization of male workers who cannot be replaced by women, which, in addition to the lack of necessary products from consumers, may lead to the complexity of functioning of the entire Obukhov community.
“Big business, in particular, Kyiv Cardboard and Paper Mill of Austrian Pulp Mill Holding is already modeling the consequences of staffing shortages. Fears of being left without the ability to provide the necessary production processes of the enterprise due to a shortage of personnel are not unfounded – now every 10th employee is in the ranks of the WSU. In the areas where previously worked mostly men, today you can see women, because KKBK started programs for vocational training, thanks to which you can learn a new profession at the expense of the company – for example, forklift driver”, – told the agency “Interfax-Ukraine” in the press service of KKBK.
At the same time, they emphasize that there are workers who are difficult and sometimes impossible to replace. In particular, it takes about five years to become a machine operator of a paper-making or cardboard machine, as it is necessary to master a number of step-by-step works.
The press service of KKBK noted that the indispensability of paper industry professionals is also due to the fact that paper production is associated with high levels of noise, temperature, humidity and vibration, so people working in the shops must be physically tough.
“There are also professions at the company where only men can work according to labor safety requirements. Therefore, the option of replacing them with women is impossible. If such employees are mobilized, production will stop,” the mill assumes.
The company predicts that consumers may be left without sanitary-hygienic products, and large manufacturers of Ukrainian goods without cardboard containers, the stoppage of the enterprise can dramatically affect the life of Obukhivka community.
“The Obukhiv city territorial community includes 25 settlements: 24 villages and the city of Obukhov. Out of 50 thousand people of the population, more than 2 thousand people work at Kiev KBCK, and in 2023 one third of the community budget was made up of KBCK taxes. Therefore, the suspension of the plant threatens severe consequences”, – the press service quotes the secretary of the Obukhov City Council Larisa Ilyenko.
According to her, in this case, the local budget revenues will be significantly reduced, which will affect the socio-economic development of the community and will affect almost all sectors, in particular education and medicine.
“In the housing and utilities sector there will be a problem with the treatment of domestic sewage. Heating will disappear in apartment buildings – consumers of the enterprise, which is more than 20 thousand subscribers. But we hope that the community will be able to continue to count on fruitful cooperation with the plant”, – she believes.
“Given the difficult conditions of mobilization, Kyiv Cardboard and Paper Mill faces serious challenges. The answer to the question whether the enterprise will be able to maintain its stability further remains open. Whether we will be able to overcome staff hunger and continue to work, time will show”, – summarize in the press service of the enterprise.
Kiev KBC is the parent company of the group of companies of the same name, one of the largest enterprises in Europe for the production of cardboard and paper products with a staff of more than 2.5 thousand employees.
As reported, in 2023 the mill produced products (corrugated packaging, paper products for sanitary and hygienic purposes, molded containers for eggs) for UAH 7 billion 568 million, and in January-May this year – for UAH 3 billion 173 million.
The owner of the mill is Austrian Pulp Mill Holding.
