South African telecommunications and fixed-line provider Telkom has refuted claims that it is currently in the process of retrenching up to 13 000 employees. In a media statement, the company said that some staff have been given the option of “early retirement”.
“Telkom is aware of speculation regarding retrenchment of some 13 000 employees and wishes to place it on record that no such decision has been taken. The Company recently announced voluntary separation and voluntary early retirement process to its employees which emphasised that the decision to apply for a package is at the sole discretion of every employee,” Telkom said in a statement late yesterday afternoon.
The company went on to add that the process of early retirement is completely up to the individual employees, and that no employee is forced to take the offer.
“No employee is obligated to invoke this offer. Importantly, this is not a Section 189 process in disguise and this is not the first time Telkom has made this offer available to all categories of employees.”
It also stated that the Company’s cost structure, rather than the number of its workforce, plays a major role in the option of its early retirement package.
“Furthermore the outcome of this process will not be assessed on the reduction of the number of employees, but on the overall impact of the Company’s cost structure. This will be monitored continuously throughout the process to ensure that the Company reaches the desired state of cost efficiency,” Telkom concluded.
Charlie Fripp – Consumer Tech editor
