Cape Town – The jobs of 106 workers at Bidvest South African Container Depot (SACD) in Durban are at risk due to retrenchments announced by the company.
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) initiated a strike last week after failing to reach an agreement with Bidvest during the Section 189 consultation process.
According to Daily SUN, many employees, some with the company since 2009, feared the impact on their families and livelihoods, including disrupted education and financial support for dependents.
The strike, which began on January 6, 2025, followed Bidvest’s issuance of retrenchment notices in December 2024, the report said.
Bidvest SACD, which employs 294 people nationally, cited intense market competition, underutilisation of warehouse services, and challenges within the national port system as reasons for the retrenchments.
But the union claimed that Bidvest seemed to be planning to outsource the operations of the SACD.
Numsa opposed the outsourcing of jobs, saying it will lead to reduced wages and loss of employee benefits.
“Numsa opposes outsourcing because it would result in workers losing benefits and conditions they currently enjoy as permanent employees. It would also lead to a reduction in wages, which the union rejected as a proposal. Bidvest would not consider alternatives, only retrenchment.”
“Bidvest has already begun the process of outsourcing, as a service provider has been appointed. Workers were served with dismissal notices stating that their last day will be on the 31st of January,” IOL quoted Numsa as saying.
Despite consultations, Bidvest proceeded with outsourcing and served dismissal notices to affected workers, effective January 31, 2025, the report said.
Numsa also accused Bidvest of violating picketing rules outlined in their Recognition Agreement.
A Bidvest spokesperson confirmed the restructuring process was complete, with ongoing discussions about picketing rules, emphasising the company’s focus on employee safety and well-being.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
