BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AFTER much discussion, consideration and restructuring, the TDC Group of Companies took the decision to reduce its workforce, effectively placing 15 individuals on the breadline.
The affected employees were drawn from branches on both St. Kitts and Nevis and, according to the Group’s Chairman, Michael Morton, the exercise took place over the past week and a half.
He explained to this publication that this was the Group’s last resort, having engaged in a number of other exercises designed to place it on surer economic footing.
“…we have had to do some restructuring and this – of course – I geared towards putting the company in a position to take us through this period of difficulty and strain and ensure the long term viability and profitability for the company.These are some minor adjustments in addition to others which have been made to place the company on strong economic footing.
“For several months we have been looking at all our costs and we have made the necessary changes to some of them, but it has now reached the point where we are looking at personnel costs in addition to all the other measures that we have undertaken. And so some jobs are now being outsourced. Some persons’ employment contracts have been changed to – as it were – commission based. Some have been put on reduced hours and others have unfortunately, about 15 positions across the company, been made redundant.”
Morton expressed that it was a difficult decision to make, especially since the Group considers manpower as its greatest asset.
“This was very much a last move for the company. Our staff/human resource is our most important asset. I think it is well known throughout the country, indeed the Caribbean, that TDC is a company that invests in staff at all levels. We spend considerable sums training staff and that investment to us is very, very important and it is not one which we liquidate. So when it comes to making such decisions, of course, it is very, very difficult.”
Most of the 15 – which equates to about 2.27 percent of TDC’s workforce – have been made redundant and have already exited the company with their packages. Morton however indicated that the others are scheduled to exit within upcoming weeks.
“These are all persons we’ve sat with and they all know what is happening…discussions have been taking place with all staff. We held meetings with every staffer. They are very much engaged in helping the company to work itself out of this slowdown.
“Now what we are doing is undertaking new initiatives which will create more stable and economically rewarding returns for the company. Staff has been coming up with measures which will help us to overcome these challenges.”
In response to others being made redundant, Morton said, “We would hope not…but who knows?
“We are in an evolving situation and we have to look at what pops up. So we think that what we have done now under the prevailing circumstances at least stabilise our activity, but we can never tell what can happen tomorrow. Each day sees for itself.”
