Safari operators cutting staff Options

[predator]

As global recession continues to bite, some tour operators in Tanzania have started laying-off workers one of them being Thomson Safaris.

The firm recently laid off 45 employees out of its 140 Arusha staff. The remaining ones will endure 10 percent cut from their usual monthly salary packages.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200904130478.html

[predator]

As global recession continues to bite, some tour operators in Tanzania have started laying-off workers one of them being Thomson Safaris.

The firm recently laid off 45 employees out of its 140 Arusha staff. The remaining ones will endure 10 percent cut from their usual monthly salary packages.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200904130478.html

[sniktawk]

Obviously not content with their land "acquisitions". really humanitarian!


http://www.thomsonsafaris.com/th_cmt.shtml

A special prize for more BS than WS?

[predator]

Thomson were the one used as an example, but it did say several companies are doing it, so seems unfair to criticise them for doing it in particular.

I'm sure there will be a lot more jobs lost in the safari industry as people cut down on expensive foreign holidays - less guests means less staff needed to look after them.

[Nyamera]

Luangwablondes posted this on the F. As that link was directly from Arusha Times it’s probably not working now.

It’s interesting that TS were among safari companies talking about a tourist boom in late January. http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/newe.php?id=10070

I’ve learnt a lot about TS since I first got to know them in this thread. They’re a really, really nasty safari company.

[sniktawk]

I cannot belive that anbody would attempt to excuse this company for their recent behaviour. Who are the others who have acted in such an offhanded way?

Judging by the reaction from others on various forums a lot indicated they would no longer consider this company.

[predator]

I cannot belive that anbody would attempt to excuse this company for their recent behaviour. Who are the others who have acted in such an offhanded way?

Judging by the reaction from others on various forums a lot indicated they would no longer consider this company.

Not excusing their behaviour on the land issue - just pointing out that these are two separate issues and that there are other companies reducing staff according to the news report.

Safari companies getting rid of staff or reducing pay for remaining staff is no different to other companies around the world at the moment unfortunately

[twaffle]

I cannot belive that anbody would attempt to excuse this company for their recent behaviour. Who are the others who have acted in such an offhanded way?

Judging by the reaction from others on various forums a lot indicated they would no longer consider this company.

Not excusing their behaviour on the land issue - just pointing out that these are two separate issues and that there are other companies reducing staff according to the news report.

Safari companies getting rid of staff or reducing pay for remaining staff is no different to other companies around the world at the moment unfortunately

We are seeing this in our manufacturing industry here. Workers are being offered shared shifts instead of losing their jobs altogether. It translates to them earning about 75% of their previous wage. I have only seen a couple of instances where the CEO also is taking a salary reduction but I think that they will have to as well if there isn't a huge and nasty backlash.

It is probably not just safari companies doing it, but maybe their public scrutiny isn't as obvious so I only hope that, overall, the companies try to behave in a fair manner. Some businesses (and governments) use these extraordinary times to instigate harsh and unfair practises, knowing that it is easier to get away with it.

[madaboutcheetah]

Agree, they are 2 different issues. Yet, when you follow the course of events - it does not portray any positive image about this company.

[Guest_nyama_*]

Another camp will remain closed this season: Sossusvlei Wilderness Camp.

[madaboutcheetah]

What is the reason they say? Refurb?

[sniktawk]

I agree with Hari, two different situations, but to me at least a common theme, total disregard for the local population.

[safariguy]

Guys, if the world economy suffers it affects everybody. I would call it irresponsible to keep all employees and risk a complete loss. Laying off employees is never an easy decision, and some posts seem to think that it was an easy decision on TS's part. I had dinner last week with Rick and Judi and I can tell you that it was not an easy decision.

As for the link to the past report, it is very easy to sit at a computer a continent away or at least many thousand miles away and throw stones. However, if you were to be on the ground, collect your own information and think about these situations in your own light, you would have a very different opinion. Why does this topic continue to be brought up, when no new information is brought up? Mud slinging at its finest.

If you do not take the time to learn about these details on your own, you aren't doing yourself justice in the pursuit of the truth. Get on a plane. Meet people. Ask questions. Don't take east African blogs or editorial writings as the gospel. Think critically. And get off the computer. Yes, this frustrates me, and I feel that I am entitled to feel frustrated. You will only be in a position to have an opinion if you know the parties involved. I am willing to bet that not a single person in this thread has met Rick or Judi, or have any idea of what they are like as people.

[madaboutcheetah]

Andy,

It depends on who is being let go of - and how it impacts the quality of the safari. I obviously, have no idea about what's going on at TS and I doubt I would be doing any research on them to book a trip either.

Let me use another example., after 9/11 when WS let go of trackers on the background of slow economy - that IMO impacted the quality of the experience. Ofcourse, perhaps their clientele don't really see the need for trackers etc etc., but there are many of us who like the quality of our gameviewing (I'm talking of tracking on foot, ofcourse and not spotting from the back seat)

[safariguy]

Hari, I think you have a separate and valid point. However, the premise on which the subject was brought up was completely different. It was suggested that it was poor judgement to have to let some employees go. Businesses are in business to stay in business, and in difficult economic times some difficult decisions have to be made. If difficult decisions aren't made, it can affect the business as a whole to a point where the business can no longer stay in business. How fair would that be to the remaining employees? There are many many sad stories across Africa of the decline in the tourist industry and how it is affecting employment.

[madaboutcheetah]

Andy, agreed - completely different context both issues.

EDIT: Addition to the post

While, I do agree/understand that every business is run/operated to generate profits (that's why it's a business in the first place) - excessive marketing hoopla in terms of community upliftment, ethics, conservation on enviornment etc etc., is uncalled for. Due to these reasons, i really think some operators are complete hypocrites with some beyond border-line "false marketing" practices.

[Game Warden]

Let's stop getting at each other, and return to the original point of the thread. Thanks.

[Nyamera]

I don’t know if TS are worse than other companies when laying off staff, workers rights aren’t that strong in East Africa, but I do think a reminder of what they’re doing in Soit Sambu is needed here.

It’s very possible that the owners of TS are wonderful people to be around when you’re doing business with them, but it’s a fact that they are violent landgrabbers. On their website and in their press releases they may be very “philanthropic” and “community based”. If you want to get into tourism activities on Tanzanian village land you should make a transparent agreement with the village assembly that is a legal entity and not just with a few corrupt leaders, or someone completely unrelated. What happened with Sukenya Farm was that the government pressured village leaders to let the brewery TBL plant barley on a big piece of land, which the villagers refused. Some leaders didn’t want to be too unpopular with the government and gave TBL a smaller piece of land – Sukenya Farm. As there was a conflict over this and as the barley wasn’t a success, the cultivation stopped. Years later, in 2006, TBL announced that they were SELLING the land. People in Soit Sambu were very upset with this making it clear that whoever “bought” the farm would have bought a row. TS “bought” the land feeling secure that they had the government, that care more about foreign investors than about the rights of Tanzanian citizens, on their side. To be even more secure they gave at least one vehicle to the notoriously corrupt and violent police. The police KILL people. They killed a traditional leader, Shangai ole Putaa, who opposed TS, of course saying that he was a criminal, but even if he had been a criminal – I really don’t think he was - they can’t just kill him. There were no further investigations, the police just got away with the murder. In a confrontation with local youths taking their animals to water on one side, and TS security guards together with the police on the other side, Lesinko ole Nanyoi was shot in the jaw. At a press conference in Arusha government officials absolved both the police and the TS guards from the shooting. Did Lesinko shoot himself? Trent Keegan, a photojournalist working on this story was visited by the police. He contacted friends saying that he was fearing for his security. Then he was murdered in Nairobi. This could just have been a robbery by someone who wanted his laptop, but it looks like we will never know.

I’m in contact with people in Tanzania regarding this (and other issues), I’ve read articles and blogs, including TS’s press releases, and I’ve even been contacted personally by TS’s office. I have no business interests in the safari industry and no reasons for not wanting to know the truth.

[twaffle]

It tends to lend more legitimacy to the whole debate, if that was needed. I wonder if the Tanzanian Government will deign to reply by the date stated and if you (or someone else) will be in a position to know and consequently let the rest of us interested people know also.

It has all the makings of a Hollywood blockbuster!

[Nyamera]

Thanks, Ken!

[Guest_nyama_*]

The United Nations High Commisioner for Human Rights is investigating this matter and asked the Tanzanian Government to report to them, strangely no response has been forthcoming.

Well, this is really something new in this case. Thanks for posting this, Ken.


It's just a feeling, but I can't stop thinking that at the end of the day we only will find victims.