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MTN staff rally to curb job-cuts

Tyson Ngubeni
By Tyson Ngubeni
Johannesburg, 27 Aug 2014
MTN chief HR officer Themba Nyathi says more than 5 000 counter-proposals to retrenchments have been received.
MTN chief HR officer Themba Nyathi says more than 5 000 counter-proposals to retrenchments have been received.

MTN's employees have rallied to submit a raft of alternative solutions to shedding jobs, while the company expects its internal consultation process on restructuring and retrenchments to continue until the end of September.

This is according to the operator's chief human resource officer Themba Nyathi, who tells ITWeb it continues to gather counter-proposal submissions from employees suggesting alternatives to job cuts.

"Some staff members say we could reduce our distribution costs as they noted that commissions paid to distributors are high. Others have come back with suggestions that we can cut the use of company cars and save on petrol costs.

Other employees suggested working half-days in an effort to save their jobs. We are looking into all suggestions, some of which are innovative." He says the company has received more than 5 000 proposals from staff members.

"Although I cannot pre-empt the outcome of the consultation process, we will consider the proposals before making any final decisions on the issue [of retrenchments]."

The operator is driving strategies in response to challenging market conditions, by improving efficiencies and adapting its business model.

Trade union engagement

Nyathi also refuted claims made by Solidarity this week, after the trade union said the operator failed to inform employees that they can be represented by unions during the retrenchment process.

"In the letters issued to the 843 affected people, we made it clear that they have the right to be represented by any person of their choice," he says.

He adds that most MTN employees are not union members, while Solidarity was also not a union formally recognised or registered with the company.

MTN has, however, engaged with Solidarity concerning the retrenchment process, says Nyathi.

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