African Sun fires nine managers

Hospitality group African Sun has fired at least nine top managers and consolidated operational oversight under the chief executive’s office in a restructuring move that follows last month’s Supreme Court ruling upholding employers’ right to dismiss workers on notice and without severance packages.

Labour unions say over 20 000 workers have lost their jobs in the advent of the July 17 ruling, with hundreds being dismissed daily.

Market sources and documents indicate that the hotel group has done away with management positions such as group operations director, supply chain manager, payroll manager, systems support manager, central reservations and revenue manager, marketing manager, internal auditor and senior auditor.

African Sun’s group human resources director, Elijah Nyakurerwa, told staffers yesterday that all operational oversight functions were now being managed by the group’s acting chief executive officer, Edwin Shangwa.

“All casino and sales and marketing oversight functions will now reside in the acting group chief executive officer’s office until further notice,” he said.

It was not immediately clear if other employees were affected by the restructuring.

The listed hospitality group’s profit before tax in the half-year to March 31, 2015 fell to $670 000 from $1.77 million the same period last year.

However, the group recorded a 10 percent increase in revenue to $25 million on improved performance of its Ghana Hotel, Amber Accra.

The hotel achieved $2.87 million in revenue after it opened its doors late last year.

African Sun operates hotels in Zimbabwe, Ghana and Nigeria.-The Source

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