In Oroslavje, on the northern side of Medvednica, AquafilCRO has been operating for over 20 years, a company specialized in the production of covered and textured yarn. Although Aquafil is internationally recognized as a chemical group due to its production of polyamides, the finishing activities taking place in Croatia are textile activities, thus AquafilCRO connects to the well-known Zagorje tradition of the textile industry. In its 21 years of existence, the company has gradually grown to become one of the 1000 most successful Croatian companies, employing 250 people.
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— – We operate stably and continue to grow at a sustainable pace. I can happily say that in 2021, the year to which the list of the most successful companies refers, we achieved business results very similar to those in 2019 in terms of produced quantities and revenue, the two most important items. In concrete numbers, this means 7570 tons of produced material and 276 million kuna in revenue from its sale. The year 2022, as things stand, does not bring us rest but new challenges, but I have no doubt that we will overcome them – says Saša Muminović, CEO of AquafilCRO.
Investments in Employees
Good results at AquafilCRO are followed by increases in disbursements directed towards workers. The six-month period from October 2021 to March 2022 was marked by a salary increase for workers of a total of 12.6 percent. In March of this year, the average gross salary for the position of production worker was 7635 kuna, or net 5760 kuna. This is a salary that, according to Fina’s data, is above the average salary in Krapina-Zagorje County and very close to the average salary in the manufacturing industry in Croatia.
In addition to salaries, AquafilCRO prides itself on other types of investments in its employees. Along with Christmas bonuses, vacation pay, and Easter allowances, the company also pays productivity bonuses to its workers, and the latest news in caring for them is free supplementary health insurance and free systematic check-ups aimed at prevention and early detection of cancer.
– We produce materials that are used worldwide in clothing, footwear, flooring, furniture… But all this production would not be possible without the people behind it. They are our most valuable capital, they are what makes us strong and recognizable. That is why we invest so much in them, both financially and through other benefits. Every year we conduct a survey among employees to maintain two-way communication and based on their suggestions we adapt the company. In this way, we decided to further protect the health of our workers. For example, the Aquafil group has part of its operations in the USA, so we are well acquainted with the ways of working there – in Europe, there is a greater difference between gross and net salary than in America, but that means we have the opportunity to further protect our workers. First of all humanly, and then also in business, I think these are good moves that every company should provide for its employees – says Muminović.
Growth of the Collective
In the context of everything happening in Eastern Europe and beyond, the future is not easy to predict. But despite rising energy prices affecting operating costs and transportation costs, investments in employees must continue. Aquafil continuously seeks and hires new workers to strengthen its workforce because, as CEO Muminović says, there is always room for quality people.
