STALOWA WOLA, Poland, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Malgorzata Bielica has been working at Liugong Dressta Machinery for 35 years as a technical expert. Although it has only been five years since the Chinese company invested in Poland, many local employees served at the Chinese enterprise.
In the company located in the city of Stalowa Wola, southeastern Poland, Malgorzata takes out old yellowish photos to explain why Liugong Dressta has a special meaning for her.
Her father also used to work for HSW (Huta Stalowa Wola or Steel Will Ironworks), a company preceding Liugong Dressta, as an engineer in civil engineering machinery division for more than 50 years.
At work, Malgorzata also met her husband. "We discuss work even after we get home in the evening. This kind of family and work combination has many advantages," she says.
In 2012, when she learned that the company was going to be acquired, Malgorzata, as did other Polish employees, had some concerns.
In February 2012, China Guangxi Liugong invested 170 million zloty (about 49 million U.S. dollars) and made the acquisition of Central and Eastern Europe's largest machinery manufacturer -- Poland HSW's civil engineering machinery division. Liugong also gained a 100-percent stake and access to HSW wholly-owned subsidiary company Dressta.
Malgorzata says she was worried about whether she and her husband could keep their "iron rice bowl".
However, not only could they continue to work there, the work content and treatment of employees changed for the better. Liugong's work practices gained approval from many old-time employees, who were able to continue to work peacefully without any adaptation period.
Malgorzata's daughter Katarzyna commenced work at the Department of Health and Safety in the company. Three years ago, after graduating from university, Katarzyna chose to return to her parents' and grandfather's workplace and became a member of Liugong.
"It's great to work together with parents. When we get back home, and we often talk about work, and sometimes even argue! I've learned a lot here and have met Chinese colleagues," she says.
According to the data provided by Liugong Dressta, the company has provided more than 1,200 job opportunities in the region, with a total of more than 230 million zloty (about 66 million U.S. dollars) of various accumulated taxes and fees contribution to the country between years 2012 and 2016.
Liugong Dressta Machinery vice president Hou Yubo says that Liugong in Poland cooperates with colleges and universities in Poland to provide internship opportunities for college students. It awards outstanding students with the Liugong scholarship, as well as donates stationery to orphanages and welfare homes; and sponsors cultural and sports activities of local primary and secondary school students.
Jacek Krzykwa, director of Legal and Public Affairs Department of Liugong Dressta, says Liugong has a good relationship with the local authorities.
On Liugong's initiative, Stalowa Wola City and Guangxi Liuzhou City plan on signing an agreement to become sister cities and expand cooperation.
"As residents of Stalowa Wola, we hope that the two cities increase exchanges, enhance understanding and promote common development," Krzykwa says.
Liugong Dressta Machinery is renowned for engineering durable, powerful machines from mining or landfill dozers, to oil and gas pipe layers.
