Kosice, June 24th, 2008 - More Roma working through personnel leasing for U. S. Steel Kosice have increased their qualifications in courses for Flame-cutters and Conveyor belt operators. Additional special knowledge and skills have enabled the best of them to gain internal labor contracts with Reliningserv s.r.o., a USSK subsidiary focusing on delivery, repair and maintenance of refractory linings in metallurgical, power, wood, chemical and mechanical engineering industries.

As U. S. Steel Kosice President George F. Babcoke said during the certificate presentation and contracts signing ceremony: "Education and specialized training enables us to select those project participants who are able and willing to increase their qualifications. We are counting on them to take up more demanding positions as operators of technical equipment."

The Kosice steelworks started a special project providing work for the Roma in cooperation with Velka Ida village in 2002. Step by step the Roma from city wards Saca and Lunik IX were included as well. In the last few years approximately 150 Roma, who had been long-term unemployed, have been working in the company within the special program called Equal opportunities - work for the Roma. In addition to those who have worked in the company for many years after fulfilling the qualification criteria and selection process requirements, eighteen of the project participants have already obtained labor contracts. Róbert Zsiga from Lunik IX, Rudolf Budai and Mikulas Csizsar from Velka Ida are becoming employees of Reliningserv now.

"We will continue with this special Roma employment project and will be happy to share our experience with new partners and companies which are also interested in providing jobs for the Roma, " added George Babcoke.

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Further information:

Jan Baca
spokesman
U. S. Steel Kosice, s.r.o.
Tel.: +421 55 673 4476
Fax: +421 55 673 0330