Johannesburg - Mobile telecommunications group Vodacom Group
[JSE:VOD] on Wednesday reiterated that it will not retrench staff amid changes to the way its call centres are organised.
This followed accusations from the Communication Workers Union (CWU) that it intends to retrench about 1 000 workers.
"We have also learnt with dismay that Vodacom wants to convert some workers into labour brokers," said the CWU.
As part of changes to its call centre structure, Vodacom said it has created the opportunity for more than 700 call centre staff currently contracted to Vodacom via third parties to take up permanent positions with call centre specialist companies.
Vodacom said it is planning to make a number of changes to the way its call centres are organised. "There will be no retrenchments due to these steps," it said.
"In order to establish centres of excellence with specialist call centre providers, approximately 1 000 call centre agents currently contracted to Vodacom via third parties will now be contracted to these call centre specialists.
"There will be no changes to the remuneration and benefits of these staff. Approximately 275 staff will be redeployed within Vodacom," the group said.
"We have made every effort in planning this change to ensure that there are no job losses," said Portia Maurice, chief officer: corporate affairs.
"We're pleased that by working with our call centre partners, we've managed to provide more than 700 temporary staff with the certainty and security of a permanent home with specialists in their field. We have through this process managed to create rather than shed jobs," Maurice said.