Penza, 22 July 2016. PenzaNews. The regional professional skills competition in the nomination “The best plasterer” took place in the building under construction on Borodina street in Penza on Friday, July 22.

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Before its start, despite the heavy rain, the participants lined-up solemnly.

Welcoming the gathered, Alexander Eremkin, deputy chairman of the regional Legislative Assembly, head of the non-profit organization “Union of Penza builders” said that 25 workers from nine organizations applied to take part in the competition, which has been held annually for 10 years already.

In turn, the deputy chairman of the regional government Yuri Krivov drew attention to the fact that by the decision of the governor Ivan Belozertsev the winners will get prizes: for the first place – a car, for the second place – a television, for the third one– a laptop.

“We will continue holding similar competitions to raise the prestige of blue-collar jobs, including in the sphere of construction,” he emphasized.

Then, the rules of the competition were explained to the participants.

First, they had to execute a practical task, which evaluated amount of work, time spent, and quality of work. Then, the participants were offered a theoretical test.

As the Minister of Construction, Architecture, and Road Management of the Penza region Alexander Grishaev noted, the professional skills competition is an effective way to raise motivation of workers of this sphere, despite some objective difficulties the industry faces.

Moreover, in his opinion, it helps to attract young workers in the construction industry.

“To reach the desired results, we need to professionally teach the youth, basically, to remember what was forgotten. I think, in the Penza region this work is running well. We have several specialized classes at schools. The multi-discipline college is working hard in this direction. The institution of higher education [the Penza State University of Architecture and Construction] constantly provides work force to road and construction industries,” the head of the Ministry told the journalists.

Alexander Grishaev also noted that the regional authorities render full support to construction companies, which allowed the Penza region in the first half of 2016  to become the leader in the Volga Federal District in the number of commissioned square meters per person and the fourth – in pace.

“Among four regions of the Volga region, we are the only one that have positive index – 104% compared to last year,” he said.

Throughout the whole day, the Penza plasterers competed in professional skills, afterwards their work was evaluated by the competition commission.

As a result, the first place was taken by Sergei Khmelnitsky, LLC “Special department for finishing work.” The second was the worker of LLC industrial and financial company “Termodom” Alexander Akhmaev. Olga Lazutina from LLC production and repair company “Trest Otdelstroy” showed the third result.