Chapter 397 - 215: Inspecting Barcelona (Part 4)
The construction plan for the Barcelona Industrial Base had already been determined, but there will certainly be some discrepancies between the plan and reality.
Currently, based on the development and construction situation of the industrial base, there will be a certain gap compared to the original estimates once fully completed.
Of course, such discrepancies are actually a good thing. As long as the issues of workers and technical personnel can be resolved, the bigger the industrial base, the better.
Although industrial capacity increased by only about 10%, for a massive industrial base employing hundreds of thousands of workers, this 10% increase in industrial capacity equates to over one hundred thousand tons in steel alone.
The Barcelona Industrial Base is a comprehensive industrial facility encompassing fields such as chemical industry, heavy industry, machinery processing, military industry, electrical industry, and light industry. This 10% increase can even impact Spain’s overall industrial scale.
Upon hearing Ankaro’s report, Carlo smiled and felt entirely at ease, "This is good news. There’s no need to worry about the workers’ issues, as more and more workers will continue to come to Barcelona.
You just need to complete the third phase of the construction plan; any problems faced can be submitted to the government or brought directly to me.
The construction of the industrial base is of utmost importance; I will not allow anyone to undermine our industrial base. Ankaro, as long as you ensure the successful completion of the third phase of the Barcelona Industrial Base, the next Cabinet Government’s Minister of Industry position will be yours."
Ankaro is already a member of Spain’s noble class, undoubtedly a close ally to Carlo.
For this reason, Carlo’s regard for Ankaro is visibly significant, even going so far as to promise the critical position of Minister of Industry.
Among the various departments in the Cabinet, the Ministry of Industry is undoubtedly one of the most important, comparable perhaps only to defense and finance departments.
Upon hearing Carlo’s promise of the Minister of Industry position, Ankaro nodded with excitement and confidently assured Carlo, "Rest assured, Your Majesty, I will supervise the successful completion of the Barcelona Industrial Base.
Before the next Cabinet Government election, I will present to you a complete and expansive Barcelona Industrial Base, without letting down your trust."
Carlo nodded, fully confident in Ankaro’s words.
Establishing an industrial base in Catalonia is not an easy task, as those extreme Catalans occasionally cause disruption or secretly obstruct progress.
The successful establishment of the Barcelona Industrial Base so far is due to governmental attention, military presence, and Ankaro’s tireless dedication.
According to reports from the Royal Security Intelligence Service, since Ankaro became the chief executive of the industrial base, he has been working late into the night almost every day.
In addition to overseeing the construction of the industrial base to ensure building quality, he continuously liaises with the factories and enterprises that have already relocated to ensure their production and transportation.
Indeed, Carlo provided Ankaro with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and Ankaro seized it. Through this opportunity, he not only showcased his ability and worth but also earned Carlo’s trust with his attitude.
In Carlo’s view, Ankaro is a talent worth nurturing, which is exactly what Ankaro aims to achieve.
"Are the factories and enterprises in the industrial base strictly following labor law regulations by paying workers’ salaries and providing benefits?" Carlo continued to inquire.
In truth, workers’ demands are not high; they simply don’t want their pay to be docked and want some rest time.
Workers are not averse to overtime; they are opposed to overtime with no rewards. No one wants to work overtime without extra pay, but with sufficient overtime compensation, workers would naturally be willing to work a few extra hours in the factory every day.
"The industrial base places great emphasis on this; I organize personnel to investigate all factories and enterprises within the industrial base periodically to ensure they do not dock workers’ wages. So far, there have been no such issues within the Barcelona Industrial Base, and workers’ hours are strictly limited to under 11 hours." Ankaro replied.