In Kenya, teacher learns life lessons

Chinese graduate hones hr skills on training program for workers on rail project

Zuo Lin, a 26-year-old native of northeastern China, has got used to unusual text messages at any time of day.

"Hello, madam, this is Eric," started one the messages on her private cellphone at 8 pm. "Yesterday I was transferred from my workstation, which is 50 km from Mtito Andei. I am inconvenienced, please assist me."

It's all in a day's work for Zuo, who graduated from university with an English major, having been trained as a teacher. She works in the human resources department at China Road and Bridge Corp's Section 2 office in Kenya.

The company is building the $3.8 billion Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, a major project that is expected to bring major changes to East Africa.

In the case of Eric, the inconvenienced worker, it was up to her to find a solution. "I discussed it with the senior site manager, who explained that he needed more workers to complete the project. I had to make sure that there was accommodation for this worker and ease his translocation," she explains.

Recently, she served as master of ceremonies during the launch of a technology-transfer training program in Voi, Kenya. Touted as the first of its kind in the region, the CRBC program aims to boost the skills of Kenyans engaged in building the railway. She articulately introduced each dignitary who was present.

Even though some human resource managers may find the task of interacting with people of different cultures daunting, Zuo says she finds it exhilarating.

"I meet people every day, unlike other professions where they shuffle papers the whole day. It is also an opportunity to learn cultures of different people," she says. The office has 2,300 employees.

CBRC employs more than 10,000 Kenyan workers. It is expected that 30,000 local workers will be employed to finish the construction of the SGR by 2017.

Zuo says every day has its own challenges in her work as liaison between the administration and the workers. "I encourage a culture of openness to ensure that the company grows with the workers," she says.

"The project will only be completed through the partnership of both the Chinese and Kenyan workers. They have to complement each other and this is my job here."

Zuo says conflicts arise when one side does not listen to the other. "When workers strike, it is an indication of a communication breakdown. This is not what we want, and we go out of our way to promote harmony in the workplace.

"We may not be able to address all the complaints, but by reaching a consensus in one, we are sure that it has a ripple effect among the workers that the management is listening."

Zuo says that not all workers are drawn from the local community. The company gives each worker an accommodation allowance according to their job group. For those working during the night shift, rooms have been erected near the construction sites for their convenience.

"We are scheduled to construct more rooms here in Voi as we finalize the county's train station. Because of our tight schedule, we will need more hands," Zuo says.

Apart from recruiting, she also is responsible for training. The new program falls in her docket, and she is happy that it is happening during her tenure.

"Some of the local workers have low skills and lack the ambition to further their education. This program is an opportunity to reignite the fire in the belly that I have seen Kenyans possess. I interact with them and I know they are eager to turn their fortunes around," she says.

The training program will not only improve their skills, but also their attitude, she adds. "We want to teach them to cherish any learning opportunity presented to them. Chinese are good in mentorship programs and this adopts learning from the mentor system, where they practically show you a skill and its application and then they expect you to do it and ask questions."

She says her department is promoting an environment conducive to this. Workers will take classes either in the evening or on Sundays. It does not interfere with their work schedules. "Education is an asset that should be cherished. And we are happy that we have launched this program here," says Zuo.

She believes that this will not only make the workers marketable for future employment, but also will make them more competitive. "Chinese are competitive and diligent people. This is the culture we are inculcating here. This will change their approach to tasks. They will work as a team, as a family."

She also thinks it will make her job easier. "When a worker has low skills, they are careless in their task execution and also with company property. But once they know their self-worth, this drastically changes their attitude."

A trained worker not only completes their task, but also will be responsible for it. "There will be less supervision and therefore, the speed will be accelerated."

Zuo emphasizes the need to build a critical mass of trained citizens in the country. "Sub-Saharan Africa has a serious deficit of infrastructure. These are the people who will not only build this network in the country, but will be exported to other countries because of their knowledge."

Zuo has been in Kenya for 15 months now. The decision to join the CRBC project has given her a wider perspective on Africa. She had a brief stint in Botswana and South Africa before relocating to Kenya.

Though she has deviated from her initial career path of being a teacher, she says she has found a new love for human resources.

"I now know the requirements of setting up a new project. I also know the recruitment process and how to develop employees under my care, be they Chinese or Kenyans. I now know how to prepare for mega-projects, keeping in mind the company's needs and future goals," she adds.

lucymorangi@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily Africa Weekly 07/10/2015 page19)