Fifty-four workers have been retrenched following the announcement of the closure of the Glencoe abattoir.
The facility will close down on April 13. A spokesman for the abattoir could not release full details to the Courier at the time of going to press as negotiations were, at that stage, still underway with the Food and Allied Workers Union and employees.
It is understood that consultative meetings had been held with the workers and unions in term of the Labour Relations Act and that staff will receive benefits in accordance with the laid-down legislation.
The shareholders that run the abattoir are expected to release more details soon.
The closure surprised workers who were quoted as saying that they had been told that the business had been sold and would be rebuilt and expanded on over the next twelve months, but in the meantime a decision had been made to shut it down and retrench all workers.
Workers were told this at a meeting on March 28. Some employees have been there for over 20 years and fear that they will not be able to find alternative employment with the downturn in the economy.
Mayor Richard Mbatha expressed his concern and said the Council would be looking at ways to possibly assist wherever the municipality could.