Up to 393 workers of Beefcor Meat Suppliers could be affected by proposed retrenchments following the suspension of beef exports, livestock movement, and slaughtering owing to the Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak.
Beefcor's CEO Jurgens Twyman in an internal notice stated that the decision is based on the financial impact of the outbreak and the uncertainty over when restrictions will be lifted and export markets will reopen.
He also attributed the company's decision to the loss of export income, while operating expenses continue.
Twyman further stated that positions may have become redundant or that the number of employees required for certain positions has been reduced.
The listed positions that will possibly be affected by the retrenchment include slaughterers, line workers, cleaners, offal workers, deboners, trimmers, packers, and quality controllers.
Dispatch workers, chiller workers, supervisors, saw operators, maintenance workers, cashiers, stock controllers, clerks, machine operators, and other production workers may also be affected.
NAFAU members are expected to participate in consultations through the union and its representatives this Friday.
Its Secretary General Jacob Penda said the union is seized with the matter.
Jacob stressed that it is surprising that the company is considering such drastic actions while partial restrictions have not even been enforced for a full month.
He added that the union will also engage the line ministry to discuss the matter further.
The consultations between Beefcor and the union are expected to consider alternatives to dismissals, including short-time arrangements, temporary lay-offs, unpaid leave, remuneration reductions, the elimination of overtime, and voluntary separation packages.
Newly appointed employees may be the first ones to be hit by retrenchment, while the company will also look at factors such as skills, qualifications, and experience among the possible criteria.
Twyman added that the proposed notice period runs from 05 October to 05 November.