Medicines, juice, cheese, carpets, paint, televisions: everything that leaves an Algerian factory passes through the hands of production operators. The job hires in every industrial zone, is learnt quickly with short training, and opens a real path to supervision. On Chghol it is the third most-demanded job, after sales representative and accountant. This guide describes the posts, the working conditions the law governs and the steps to get hired, based on the offers published on the site.
The posts, from general operative to production manager
| Post | What you do | Profile often requested |
|---|---|---|
| General operative, assistant operator, packaging operative | Feeding the line, packing, labelling, visual checks, cleaning the station | Middle or secondary school, beginners accepted, in-house training |
| Machine operator | Setting and running a machine (press, filler, injection, cutting), recording defects | Technical CAP or CMP, or first factory experience |
| Line operator | Running a complete line, format changes, first-level troubleshooting | BT or BTS, or several years as an operator |
| Line leader, team leader, shift leader | Assigning a team’s work, following output, quality and safety | Proven experience, supervision |
| Workshop manager, production manager | Planning production, managing several teams, reporting to management | BTS, bachelor’s or engineering degree, several years of supervision |
On 3 November 2026, the most frequent titles on Chghol were « Agent polyvalent » (general operative, 7), « Responsable » or « Chef de production » (6), « Chef de ligne » (line leader, 4), « Opérateur machine » (4), then packaging, line-running and team-leader posts. Employers are very spread out — 55 for 76 offers —, led by Merinal (5), Dar Aldawa and Laboratoires Frater Razès. See all the production operator offers.
The sectors that hire
- Medicines: Merinal, Dar Aldawa, Frater Razès, El Kendi (MS Pharma), UNIMED, LBVET. Work follows good manufacturing practice, in gowns and clean rooms; see our guide to the pharmaceutical industry.
- Food: Palmary, Ramy Milk Company, Natra International, Kamelo Food, Moulin du Sahel, Fromagerie César, Messaad Water. Strict hygiene, high output in season.
- Electronics and lighting: Géant Electronics, Mono Lighting. Assembly, testing, packaging.
- Textiles, carpets and materials: Tapidor, MIB Clothing, Refratech, Mauvilac (paint), concrete plants. More physical jobs, often in shifts.
- Cosmetics and engineering: Niall Cosmétique, Elite CNC and Engineering (CNC machining).
Shift work, night work, overtime: what the law says
Many factories run continuously and organise work in rotating teams: morning, afternoon and sometimes night (the « 3×8 »). The exact pattern is set by the employer, the collective agreement or the internal rules; ask about it at interview.
- Legal hours: 40 h a week (ordinance no. 97-03 of 11 January 1997).
- Overtime: exceptional, limited to 20 % of legal hours and paid at least 50 % more (law 90-11, art. 31 and 32). Details and calculation in our guide to overtime and bonuses.
- Night: any hour between 9 pm and 5 am (art. 27). Forbidden under 19 (art. 28); for women, possible with a labour inspector’s exemption (art. 29), common in continuous industry.
- Allowances: shift work, hardship or night work often give a working-conditions allowance, set by the company’s agreement; it is part of the salary (art. 81). Check that it appears on your payslip.
Safety: your rights and your habits
Law no. 88-07 of 26 January 1988 on occupational hygiene, safety and medicine puts safety on the employer: guarded machines, personal protective equipment supplied (shoes, gloves, glasses, ear plugs, clothing), safety training at the station, and a medical check on hiring then periodic checks by occupational medicine. On your side, wear the equipment, never remove a guard or a safety device, and report any fault to your team leader.
After an accident, tell the employer within 24 h; they declare it to the CNAS within 48 h. A workplace accident is compensated at 100 % from the first day (law no. 83-13 of 2 July 1983).
Getting hired in 5 steps
- 1
Choose a short course or a diploma
CFPA centres prepare the CAP and CMP (machine operation, electricity, mechanics, food industries), INSFP institutes the BT and BTS. Registration is on takwin.dz; see our guide to vocational training.
- 2
Consider apprenticeship
Between 15 and 30, apprenticeship (law no. 18-10) alternates centre and factory, with a pre-salary: a way into a company that often hires its apprentices.
- 3
Write a factory CV
Highlight the machines you know, the products, safety, your availability for shift work and where you live. It is possible without a diploma: see our guide to finding a job without a diploma.
- 4
Prepare the trial and the interview
Many factories test on site: dexterity, reading an instruction, simple arithmetic. Arrive on time, in closed shoes, and ask about the shifts, transport and pay.
- 5
Set an alert
A Chghol alert « production operator + your wilaya » tells you as soon as an offer is published.
Progressing in the factory
The classic path runs from general operative to machine operator, then line operator, line leader or team leader, and workshop manager. Three bridges are natural: maintenance (49 maintenance technician offers on Chghol on 3 November 2026), quality (34 quality controller offers) and warehouse logistics (44 storekeeper offers). A BT or BTS earned in evening classes speeds up the move to supervision a lot.
Pay
None of the 76 offers published on Chghol on 3 November 2026 showed a salary. In industry, pay usually combines a base salary, allowances (shift work, hardship, meals, transport) and output bonuses. The production operator salaries page helps you place yourself; at interview, always talk in net monthly terms and ask for the detail of the allowances.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a diploma to be a production operator?
Not always. General operative and assistant operator posts often accept beginners trained on site. A CAP, CMP or BT from vocational training opens machine operator and line operator posts faster.
Is night work compulsory?
It depends on how the factory is organised. The law forbids it under 19 (art. 28); for women, a labour inspector’s exemption is needed (art. 29). Ask about the shift pattern before signing.
Who supplies the safety equipment?
The employer, under law no. 88-07 of 26 January 1988: shoes, gloves, glasses, hearing protection and clothing suited to the post, plus safety training.
From what age can I work in a factory?
The minimum hiring age is 16 (law 90-11, art. 15), except under an apprenticeship contract. Under 19, no night work.
Is overtime paid more?
Yes: at least 50 % more than a normal hour, within a limit of 20 % of legal hours (law 90-11, art. 31 and 32).
How do I become a line leader?
With a few years on the line, a good command of safety and quality, and often a BT or BTS. Show that you can train newcomers and report problems.
- Law no. 90-11 of 21 April 1990 on labour relations, as amended (art. 15, 27–32, 81) — Official Journal
- Ordinance no. 97-03 of 11 January 1997 setting legal working hours — Official Journal
- Law no. 88-07 of 26 January 1988 on occupational hygiene, safety and medicine — Official Journal
- Law no. 83-13 of 2 July 1983 on workplace accidents and occupational diseases, as amended
- takwin.dz — national pre-registration platform for vocational training
- Production operator offers published on Chghol (snapshot of 3 November 2026)
Texts consulted at the update date of the article.