Reuters reports that the catering arm of SA Airways (SAA) plans to lay off 118 workers, according to the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa).  The layoffs come as the struggling airline implements a turnaround strategy to restore profitability.  

Numsa indicated it had received notice of the retrenchments from the catering arm, Air Chefs, and said it would oppose the planned job cuts of 118 workers out of a workforce of about 1,200 people.  The union said in a statement:  “Numsa demands that any discussion regarding retrenchments should take place within the SAA group which is the mother company.  Our members demand that any restructuring must take place at a group level and should not be decentralised.”  Numsa added that it was engaging with SAA chief executive Vuyani Jarana on the planned job cuts and consultations were expected to take place on Friday.  SAA mapped out a turnaround strategy in March to make the struggling airline more competitive and cost-efficient after reporting a hefty annual loss.

• Read this report by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo in full at Moneyweb

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