St. John’s Antigua- Labour Minister Dr Errol Cort and Labour Commissioner Hesketh Williams have both expressed concern over the impending closure of Call Center Services (CCS), a business process outsourcer to the Bodog Brand, its biggest client.
On Tuesday, the managers announced that operations from the ACT Teledome Building on Old Parham Road would cease on July 9 and 156 employees would be put on the breadline.
Dr Cort said he would dialogue with the operators to see if there are any alternatives to job losses, given the negative impact it would have on the families and community as a whole.
“As labour minister I am extremely concerned over this development and the negative effect that it will have on the affected employees and their families. To this end, I will seek to raise the matter with the company and explore with the company whether there are any feasible alternatives to a complete closure,” the minister said.
At the same time, Williams said it would be an uphill task finding alternative employment for the workers, given the current economic climate and the fact there are quite a number of unemployed people in the twin island.
As a result of Bodog Brand’s decision to seek business in the Phillipines where the market is more lucrative, CCS said it cannot continue to operate without its largest client.
Director of Operations at CCS, Rob Davies told OBSERVER Media the company may keep a small office here but it would only be able to employ “a handful of people.”
CCS took over operations from Tasman Gaming in 2006 and the workers who had already accumulated six years with Tasman, continued service.
Hence, CCS has to pay out severance for as many as 12 years for workers who were with Tasman from its inception and remained with CCS.
