FORTY POSITIONS will be made redundant at Cable and Wireless Jamaica, Ltd., today as a result of the "continued regional restructuring of Cable and Wireless West Indies," the telephone company said yesterday.
This brings to 840, the number of positions terminated since April 2001 when the company began updating its technology.
In August, 140 posts were made redundant adding to 60 that were terminated in April 2002, 300 workers that were terminated in April 2001 and another 300 in September 2001. This reduced the staff from about 3,200 to fewer than 2,000.
Most of the positions affected are from the company's purchasing division, and CWJ said that all affected persons will receive, among other benefits, financial advice and job search support.
"As in similar situations Cable and Wireless will ensure that all employees affected receive the full benefits to assist them in handling these changes; this includes financial and legal advice, personal counselling and job search support," the company stated in its news release.
The company also closed four mobile centres last year.
Cable and Wireless said then that it was forced to eliminate the posts, some of which were already vacant, and cited the company's need to be more efficient and to position itself to deliver superior customer service in an increasingly competitive environment.
The company said that the move was not about laying off people, but was the result of the continuing transformation of its operations, which it said, had to take place as it prepares for full liberalisation of the telecoms sector early this year.
