The growing uncertainty and widespread damage being inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic is forcing one of Barbados’ oldest companies, Courtesy Garage Ltd to reduce its payroll.
Last Friday, the company made 14 workers redundant.
In a statement, the 98-year-old company said: “Saying goodbye to work colleagues is difficult and emotional, particularly where treasured relationships have been built up through the years. But very careful and extensive thought was given to saving the jobs of as many employees as possible, and, as result, only 14 workers are being made redundant.”
The company said the hardest hit area of operations was Courtesy Rent-A-Car where airport rentals were at a virtual standstill with a flood of rental cancellations. The largest block of employees, eight, are from rentals and rentals-related departments.
“On the other hand, COVID-19 has caused major disruption to global car parts supply chains and no one knows when this disruption will end.
“In an environment where there is growing uncertainty surrounding the financial impact of COVID-19, Courtesy Garage Ltd had no alternative but to take a clinical but painful look at its operations, resulting in our having to say goodbye to a number of our employees.”
Courtesy stressed, however, that in addition to honouring all its financial obligations to the affected employees, it will be putting measures in place to help them manage this transition, such as assisting with retraining and finding other job openings wherever possible. (PR)
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