South African telecommunications giant Telkom is planning a further headcount reduction over the next five years, however, CEO Sizwe Nxasana says this will be done responsibly.
Writing in the group’s annual report released on Tuesday, Nxasana said the number of fixed-line employees, excluding subsidiaries, had declined by 10,4% to 35,361 in
2003.
However, he said that during the past four years, 35% of job losses had been due to natural attrition, while 30% had taken voluntary severance packages, 18% had opted for early retirement and 11% could be attributed to outsourcing.
He added that contrary to criticism leveled at Telkom, involuntary retrenchment had accounted for only 6% of the total reduction.
“We will continue to streamline our operating base, which will involve further headcount reduction over the next five years. This will be done responsibly, taking
into account the parameters and prescriptions of the Job Security and Retrenchment Framework Agreement, and will be supported by a strategy to avoid job losses and create new career opportunities,” Nxasana stated.
He said testament of the company’s commitment to this approach had been the launch of the Agency for Career Opportunities, which provided a centralised vehicle
for this strategy.
The company also revealed on Tuesday that 81% of employees recruited during the
past financial year ended March were black and 45% females. Blacks accounted for
72% of all internal promotions and females for 36% during the year. – I-Net Bridge