Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon has assured that Digicel’s decision to retrench workers was done in accordance with the Retrenchment and Severance Benefits Act (RSBA).
She also confirmed that Digicel has made efforts to get the 126 employees who will be retrenched, introduced to Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) agents, or businesses that already exist in T&T.
Following questions by UNC senator Wade Mark on Tuesday, Gopee-Scoon said Digicel, acting within the RSBA, gave notice that effective May 10, 2023, it intends to retrench 126 employees. The company gave 45 days’ notice which commenced on March 27, 2023.
“Each of the affected employees shall receive severance packages together with all terminal benefits due to them,” Gopee-Scoon added.
Gopee-Scoon said she imagined the employees are very young people who by now would have received some experience working at Digicel in largely call-centre operations.
She said InvestTT has been working on expanding this particular industry—(BPOS) industry —and had made several strides.
“Already, I’m aware Digicel has made efforts to have these particular people introduced to the other BPO agents or businesses that already exist in T&T and which are in expansion mode, so that these young people can have the opportunity. But they’ll have to go through the necessary hiring process,” she said.
“In any event, this also provides an opportunity and is an opening for the new BPOs that will come on stream shortly. There are several coming on stream that have been negotiated through InvestTT and especially with the expansion of our special economic zones, we’ll be opening the door to even more BPOs coming to T&T.”
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