51 face layoffs at Karas Abattoir

FIFTY-ONE workers, including the five managers, at Karas Abattoir and Tannery Processors (KAT) will have no jobs when the new owner, Brukkaros Meat Processors (BMP), takes over after the New Year.

BMP announced the layoffs on Monday, a source informed The Namibian yesterday. KAT’s majority shareholder, the Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF), recently sold the company for close to N$25 million to BMP after racking up losses of N$124 million over the past five years.According to the source, none of the managers at KAT were offered jobs at the new company and had no choice but to opt for compulsory retrenchment.BMP did not offer any managerial positions to KAT managers, since they wanted do away with KAT’s management style in favour of a more centralised management, the source said.”It’s a pity that after so many years of service at KAT during bad and good times, you’re treated as a number on paper by the new owners,” said one manager, who preferred anonymity.Despite BMP’s new management approach, there is little difference between the new management structure and the old KAT structure, he said.”Of the five managerial positions they only cut one and only changed the positions’ titles,” the manager said.”With this new management structure of BMP created to oust us, the managerial positions are now white dominated,” the manager said.When approached for comment, BMP’s General Manager Kobus Frankin referred The Namibian to the company’s board chairman in South Africa.The chairman could not be reached for comment.KAT’s majority shareholder, the Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF), recently sold the company for close to N$25 million to BMP after racking up losses of N$124 million over the past five years.According to the source, none of the managers at KAT were offered jobs at the new company and had no choice but to opt for compulsory retrenchment.BMP did not offer any managerial positions to KAT managers, since they wanted do away with KAT’s management style in favour of a more centralised management, the source said.”It’s a pity that after so many years of service at KAT during bad and good times, you’re treated as a number on paper by the new owners,” said one manager, who preferred anonymity.Despite BMP’s new management approach, there is little difference between the new management structure and the old KAT structure, he said.”Of the five managerial positions they only cut one and only changed the positions’ titles,” the manager said.”With this new management structure of BMP created to oust us, the managerial positions are now white dominated,” the manager said. When approached for comment, BMP’s General Manager Kobus Frankin referred The Namibian to the company’s board chairman in South Africa.The chairman could not be reached for comment.