Hundreds of Chinese guest workers are set to flood a tiny town in southern Hungary
Mayor Áron Molnár has signed an agreement, following consultations with local residents, to house hundreds of Chinese guest workers in Algyő for the construction of the BYD factory in Szeged.
A Chinese subcontractor building the BYD plant will relocate 350 Chinese guest workers to Algyő under strict conditions set by the mayor, délmagyar.hu reports.
“I didn’t sense resistance from residents, and a relatively large number attended the public forum,” explained the mayor regarding his decision.
Where will the Chinese guest workers be housed?
The incoming workers will be accommodated in the Jura Industrial Park. A former fire station and three large office buildings will be converted for this purpose. The terms of the agreement, which both parties take seriously, stipulate that no more than 350 people may move into the designated accommodation under a fixed one-year contract.
“The risk of a long-term enclave of Chinese guest workers forming in the industrial park is avoidable. After one year, the council may decide not to sign any similar lease agreements again,” said the mayor.
The conditions of the agreement also include the presence of a security service in the park, the operation of a grocery and drinks shop, and the municipality’s right to terminate the contract in the event of negative experiences. Any future lease agreement will require prior municipal approval.
Why Algyő?
Due to the proximity of the industrial park, Algyő is a logical choice, as transporting workers to the factory is straightforward. Originally, BYD had planned to build two large container-style accommodation sites, but to date only one has been completed, and it is already full. As a result, the Algyő option has come to the fore.
AE Industry Hungary Ltd. informed both the Algyő local government and its residents about the housing arrangement. The company emphasised in a letter that the accommodation units in the industrial park will be located far from residential areas, thus minimising potential disturbances for locals. The firm highlighted the following advantages of the location:
Transport: The park lies on the edge of Algyő, close to the main road and Szeged’s border, ensuring that neither workers nor vehicles pass through the town centre.
Connection to the BYD factory: A direct motorway link provides quick and easy access to the workplace.
Shuttle service: In cooperation with Signum Busz Ltd., the company will provide dedicated bus lines for transporting workers.
Catering: Workers will receive three meals a day from a professional catering company, and basic goods will be procured and distributed centrally.
Work schedule: Employees will work on weekdays from 8am to 6pm with a two-hour break, and weekend shifts will be carried out on a rotational basis.
At the end of the letter, the company noted that it welcomes all feedback and aims to ensure that the accommodation has the smallest possible impact on daily life in Algyő. Mayor Áron Molnár also addressed the accommodation site on Algyő’s community media page:
“One key point is that the part of the industrial park where the accommodation will be located is 1.6 to 7 kilometres, as the crow flies, from the town itself—so it’s not in the town or even on its outskirts, but further out,” the mayor emphasised.
Algyő’s community decision on the BYD project
As previously reported, labour shortages have emerged in the sector, also in connection with the BYD factory project in Szeged. Given that it is one of Hungary’s largest industrial developments, accommodating the essential workforce has become increasingly important. Algyő is contributing to this national endeavour by receiving guest workers, but only under clearly defined conditions. A public forum was also held, serving as a model of how a community can collectively make decisions about key issues affecting its future.
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“I didn’t sense resistance from residents, and a relatively large number attended the public forum,” explained the mayor regarding his decision.
Its really hard to understand the Hungarian people. we know all the recent migration rules changes, making hiring guest workers harder and harder. Even in 2017 Orban said no to guest workers, but then you see this kind of news and wonder how hypocritical Hungarian can be. Always playing to 2 sides with no clear pathway to follow. unbelievable
It seems the government is wholly incoherent in its “guest worker” policy. Why is there a “labour shortage” if there is unemployment? What benefit does Hungary get if factories are built and then staffed by “guest workers” the government says it doesn’t actually want?