SINGAPORE: PRESENCE BASED ON LOCAL STRENGTHS
A world-class Arkema plant dedicated to 100% bio-based Rilsan® polyamide 11 production, is soon to be opened on the Jurong Island platform in Singapore. This major project – the biggest investment in Arkema’s history – is accompanied by a large-scale on-site recruitment program. Matthieu Zône, Human Resources Director Asia-Pacific (excluding China), tells us about this facility, which draws on talent and the local ecosystem.
“First, we put together the local management team, which is closely involved in the recruitment and onboarding of around 150 employees at the future site. Most will be Singaporean citizens or permanent residents, and around one third of the future plant’s management team will be women. So we want to make sure that the final pick reflects Arkema’s diversity policy. We talk extensively about the Group’s values during interviews to see whether applicants are receptive or not. We are also preparing for the future. For local managers, we aim to select applicants we believe have the potential to move into positions that will initially be held by expats. Newcomers will join a highly structured training program based on our procedures and our culture, with a focus on safety. Recruitment is carefully timed to allow us to roll out this training program. The project phase involves around twenty mostly French expats, who are in charge of passing on our industrial know-how. Training employees and commissioning the plant will also involve other colleagues of ours, chiefly from the Marseille plant, who will be in charge of producing the amino 11 monomer. Some will come from Singapore, while others will receive employees from Singapore on site for field training. Arkema’s aim is to foster and grow talent everywhere the Group operates. In Asia, we have the critical mass to offer career prospects for all these talented people. This is a central factor making the company attractive and one of the keys to our performance. There’s something rather wonderful about all the positive energy released by a project like this and the enthusiasm of those who join us on the adventure.”
Mathieu Zône, Human Resources Director Asia- Pacific (excluding China)
“I am Senior QEHS Quality, Environment, Health and Safety Manager for the future plant. It wasn’t a given. I had to go through four recruitment interviews. But I really wanted to be part of the adventure of this new Arkema plant! It’s an exciting project. The Group has a rapidly expanding portfolio in the Asian market and a focus on corporate social responsibility excellence. For me, of course, it’s important to hire people locally, as Singapore’s multicultural labor force is skilled both academically and professionally. The training program has been customized and structured according to my needs, with in-depth consideration of my future role. The fact that the site will produce bio-based materials is particularly motivating for me, both as an HSEQ professional and as a citizen of our planet.”
Paul Wen, Quality, Environment, Health and Safety Manager, Singapore
“Being there when the plant is built is a unique opportunity. The new plant is very attractive. It’s a greenfield site, and then there’s the Group’s global profile, and everything related to Arkema’s image, values and products. All this is really exciting. I’ve been a permanent resident of Singapore for 25 years, and I’ve always worked in chemicals. My contribution is knowledge of the local job market during the recruitment phase. To begin with, I try to attract the best applicants in a highly competitive environment and onboard them in the given time to ensure a smooth launch. When I’m inducting the teams, I have to align them with local regulations and the company’s policies. As an HR professional, I’m proud to work for an organization with a staff turnover rate of less than 5%, which illustrates the extent to which the Group is able to engage its employees.”
Florence Lie Siew Ming, Human Resources Manager, Singapore
