Business Report writes that distribution company Barloworld plans significant group-wide retrenchments before the end of the year to prepare itself for trading after the coronavirus pandemic.
The group, which has more than 15,000 employees, said the retrenchment plan was in addition to a 12-month remuneration sacrifice plan implemented this month. It indicated in a trading statement on Thursday that retrenchments would affect its automotive and logistics division, equipment southern Africa operations and the corporate centre. A spokesperson said they did not know as yet how many jobs would be cut. The stated said: “Most of our businesses have been severely affected by restrictions on trade as well as various lockdowns and the prospects of a quick recovery are low, with some of the changes expected to be structural and trading activity expected to be lower for longer.” But, the group said it had a strong balance sheet and stable mature business platforms to weather the storm. It added that the board and management were focused on cash preservation, lowering operating costs in line with reduced activity, and ensuring the business was positioned for a recovery.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Edward West on page 11 of Business Report of 29 May 2020
- Read too, Barloworld to implement group-wide retrenchments as coronavirus 'severely affects' business, at Fin24
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