Skepticism on display

Videocon, the Indian white-goods and electronics manufacturer and owner of the Thomson Displays television factory in the Warsaw suburb of Piaseczno, has announced plans to expand its scope of production and invest further in the country. Some employees, however, are critical of the firm's performance so far and question the feasibility of the development plans.

The television-parts producer plans to start the first of its three projects by the end of this year. This would see the expansion of its production line and would cost around R10-15 (zł.37-55) million.

The second investment would see the start of production of plasma-television components and would amount to around R150 (zł.550) million. The third project, estimated to cost zł.5 billion, would involve the production of covers for LCD screens. The firm said these projects could be implemented if it is granted funding from the Polish government but, according to Magdalena Lidacka, a spokesperson for the Economy Ministry, no formal application or investment plan has been submitted.

Videocon's employees have serious doubts about the implementation of the development plans and blame the Polish arm's lack of authority for some of its problems, including its recent losses.

"It appears that the board of directors in Poland doesn't have the power to act independently," said Andrzej Matulka, leader of the Solidarity trade union at the firm. "Even small details and minor issues that need to be addressed have to be dealt with by the office in India."

"Discouraged by the situation in the company, the employees simply do not believe that something is going to come out of the development plans," said Matulka. He also noted that while the company's staff currently appears to be too large, it lacks the specialists necessary to implement the projects and has had difficulty recruiting them.

Anna Kapica-Harward