Kosice, March 4, 2004 - After the experience with almost 70 Romanies from Velka Ida, a similar model will be used in the case of Romanies from Lunik IX.

U. S. Steel Kosice started to employ the first group of 20 Romanies two years ago. This number has risen to today's 70. Due to the success of this long-term project we have decided to employ 10 Romanies from Lunik IX. The distinction from the model from Velka Ida is that, rather than the council leader, the priest who works with the Romany community at Lunik IX made the first selection, and the chosen group is going to be informed by people from USSK's HR Dept. Next week training courses will be starting regarding safety and work procedures.

"The role of USSK does not finish with employment. With the help of people who have on-the-spot experience of this work we will proceed to support and teach them new skills, for example how to use their earned money and how to educate their children to enhance their chances of getting a job in the future. This means that including the Romanies from Velka Ida 80 families are going to have the chance to opportunity their life style," says President Christopher Navetta.

The new group from Lunik IX will start computer training in a couple of days. Romanies generally ave shown great interest in working at at USSK. A considerable group was waiting outside the Company gates from 5 a.m. this morning. We have to say now that the new Lunik IX group has been selected, and the next step depends on the success of the project in the future.

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Further information:

Jan Baca
Director Public Affairs
U. S. Steel Kosice, s.r.o.
Tel.: +421 55 673 4476
Fax: +421 55 673 0330
E-mail: jbacausske.sk