Beefcor Meat Suppliers is considering retrenching 393 workers at its Okahandja abattoir.
This comes as the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak continues to affect slaughtering and beef exports.
This week the European Union (EU) suspended imports of some Namibian meat due to the outbreak of FMD in the country.
Beefcor is one of the companies that exports beef to the EU market.
Beefcor informed employees last week that their jobs may be affected with the proposed retrenchments.
Beefcor chief executive Jurgens Twyman made the announcement in a memo to employees.
The FMD outbreak, which was confirmed last month, led to restrictions on livestock movement and the suspension of slaughtering and exports of beef and other products from cloven-hoofed animals.
Beefcor says it does not know how long the restrictions will remain in place or when export markets will reopen.
The company says it has lost export income while it continues to carry operating costs.
Beefcor says the situation has forced it to consider reducing and reorganising its workforce to match its current operations.
A list attached to the notice shows that 393 workers across several departments may be affected.
The largest groups include 37 slaughterers or line workers, 31 deep-cleaning workers, 30 offal workers, 29 deboners, 27 general workers and 25 high-quality trimmers.
Other positions include cleaners, packers, trimmers, quality controllers, dispatch workers, scale operators, supervisors, maintenance workers, cashiers, clerks and drivers.
Beefcor says it will consult workers and their representatives before making a final decision.
The company is expected to meet with the employees who are represented by the Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union at the Beefcor Okahandja abattoir on Friday.
Beefcor says affected employees would receive one month’s notice or payment in place of the notice period.
Employees in departments that are still operating may be required to work during the notice period, while those in departments that have stopped operating would be paid instead.
Workers with at least 12 months of continuous service would receive severance pay equal to one week’s remuneration for every completed year of service.
Beefcor would also pay workers for accrued leave days and provide them with certificates of service.
Beefcor says the sudden FMD outbreak and the immediate suspension of slaughtering and exports may make it difficult to provide the normal four weeks’ notice before intended dismissals.
