Daily Maverick reports that the jobs of over 900 workers are at risk and thousands of jobs from secondary industries are being threatened as Goodyear announced last week that it was closing its factory in Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB).
The factory, in Kariega (formerly Uitenhage), was opened in 1947 and is the company’s only factory in SA. The move is expected to result in the loss of at least 907 factory jobs, with a number of sales, administrative, and management roles also in jeopardy. There are fears are that this will have a larger secondary impact as other industries, such as catering, security and corporate social investment projects will be affected by the decision. Goodyear SA will continue to maintain a sales and distribution, and Hi-Q retail presence in SA. The company said the restructuring was in line with its strategy to “optimise” its footprint and portfolio in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. The move has been slammed by organisations such as the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), which commented: “We are deeply worried about the impact on workers and their families, in Uitenhage (Kariega). It is becoming a ghost town given that ContiTech, which is part of Continental, closed down and it is also in the same tyre and rubber industry.” CEO of NMB Business Chamber Denise van Huyssteen said they would assist workers through their job loss mitigation initiative. The initiative connects companies seeking artisans with those whose jobs had been made redundant. Nduduzo Chala of the SA Tyre Manufacturers Conference said that trading conditions for local tyre manufacturers had been very difficult over the past few years.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Estelle Ellis at Daily Maverick
- Read too, Another blow to Eastern Cape job market as Goodyear signals plan to shut Kariega factory, at IOL Business
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page