Lucky Star and Amawandle factory closures impact South African workers
via The Namibian3 min read
Workers at Lucky Star and Amawandle canning factories in South Africa face uncertainty as the facilities are set to close at the end of June. Employees, some with decades of service, express concern over potential job losses and lack of income for several months. The Food and Allied Workers Union Fawu has engaged the minister of forestry, fisheries and the environment, Willie Aucamp, highlighting the need for industry intervention and value-chain analysis to improve the fisheries sector's economic contribution and employment. Fawu emphasizes the importance of job security for its members. The Oceana Group, which owns the factories, confirmed a temporary consolidation of operations due to challenges with fish supply, with Amawandle's operations shifting to Lucky Star. Oceana Group communications manager Rolf Carelse stated that the full quota of fresh pelagic fish has been caught, and the company is struggling to secure sufficient imported frozen fish. Carelse added that procurement teams are working to secure frozen products and that no employees, including permanent, contract, and seasonal workers, will be affected by this decision, which was made to protect jobs. Oceana acknowledges its critical role as a major employer in the Laaiplek and Velddrif communities.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
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