Whyalla Steelworks ramps up recruiting

The SA Government has announced that Whyalla Steelworks is increasing recruitment as it ramps up production, even as the steelworks sales process continues.

OneSteel Manufacturing needs more than 60 skilled workers in the fitting, machinist, mechanical, instrumentation, electrical and fabricating trades for an immediate start. The Steelworks has already recruited more than 83 new production operators since the South Australian Government took the step of placing the business in administration in February.

The Steelworks needs to further strengthen the workforce by bringing in additional skilled tradespeople. The urgent need for new tradies comes on the back of record production levels at the steelworks since entering administration and preparations beginning for a new owner.

More than $100 million has been committed by the administrators towards essential capital expenditure to support safety and operational stability, as well as replenishing working capital items like raw materials.

There has also been critical investment in maintenance, plant upgrades and operational efficiencies, which are beginning to deliver higher production levels.

The Whyalla Steelworks is an integrated facility which includes ironmaking, steelmaking and rolling-mill facilities. It is Australia’s only manufacturer of special grade billet and steel long products providing solutions for nation-building infrastructure including rail.

“The announcement of the steelworks seeking 60 additional tradespeople is proof that the decisive intervention by the Australian and South Australian Governments has stabilised the Whyalla Steelworks, keeping workers in jobs and ensuring this critical steelmaking asset continues to operate while a suitable long-term owner is found,” said the Federal Minister for Industry and Innovation Tim Ayres.

“The extraordinary intervention we made to place the steelworks into administration has delivered much-needed stability to Whyalla — with more well-paid, secure jobs,” said SA Premier Peter Malinauskas. “These workers are putting the Steelworks on a much safer, stable and productive footing, and setting it up for a long-term future.

“The sales process continues, with strong interest from high-quality, experienced steelmakers from around the globe.”

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