Dstv: Sack Gale, Workers Send SOS To FG

More than 2000 Nigerians will lose their jobs following the decision of Cable television service provider, Multichoice to offload a number of its workforce.

Multichoice are the operators of DSTV and Gotv, the largest cable service providers in the country.

Recall that the company has been under serious litigations from Nigerians who want the price of services on both the Dstv and Gotv platforms slashed.

Anxiety has mounted among the staff since the idea was first broached yesterday by the management.

Those who spoke to the magazine said there would be more problem on the issue of severance packages for disengaged staff.

Some staff said they were prepared to accept pay slash than outright loss of their jobs.

They are appealing to the federal ministry of Labour to intervene in the matter “to prevent the social problems that may result from the lay-off of over 2000 workers in the company” an employee said

“Most of us have worked for more than eight years in the company and now that we will be asked to go, what arrangement is being made concerning out pay off, for instance, the staff would like to know,” one senior agent told the magazine last night.

But the company said it has opened up talks with the employees that will be affected by the shake-up “so as to reduce tension and have a win-win situation for the company and its employees,” a senior manager who did not want his name mentioned said.

The decision to lay off employees by the South African company is based on the ongoing restructuring in the company’s customers’ service department, the magazine has learned.

No fewer than 2200 customers’ service agents are currently in the employ of the company, other sources said.

Many customers, the company said have started using the self-service options which now makes the call –in service outdated, the company said.

The implication, the magazine was told by sources in Multichoice, is that tens of customers service agents will be asked to go.

“A number of ancillary workers will also be laid off, based on the company’s policy to reduce its workforce in line with the current economic reality in the country,” sources in the company said.

The chief executive officer of the company, CEO Calvo Mawela also cited increased competition from additional players in the industry and unregulated OTT platforms.

It’s very difficult decision to sack the hardworking staff, he however said.

According to him “This has not been an easy decision to make but, in a business driven by advancing technologies, we must continue to drive efficiencies yet be agile enough to adapt to evolving customer needs to ensure that we remain relevant, competitive and sustainable,” Mawela said.

Adding that “We must act decisively to align to the change in customer behaviour and competition from OTT services because if we don’t reposition now, we run the risk of being completely misaligned and we put everyone’s jobs at risk.”