KBL cuts all salaries by 10%

Mbongeni Mguni | Thursday August 13, 2020 20:08

 

KBL cuts all salaries by 10%

Government reintroduced a ban on alcohol recently, after a surge in cases of Covid-19 cases, the third such move since the first case of the virus was detected locally on March 30.

“Until June, KBL staff received 100 percent of their salaries, including during the initial lockdown and alcohol trade ban, when the company made zero revenue and majority of the employees were not working,' KBL head of corporate affairs, Masegonyana Madisa told MmegiOnline this evening.

“However, as the company continued to experience losses, we made the difficult decision to reduce salaries for employees at all levels by 10 percent to avoid retrenchments at this stage.

“These reductions are temporary.”

Madisa said through the Botswana Alcohol Industry Association, (BAIA) KBL has been engaging government on the alcohol ban, adding that some of the decisions made have “begged understanding”.

“While there have been decisions made affecting our industry that begged understanding, we as an industry will continue to support government efforts to beat Covid-19,” he said.

“Our hope is that government can find alternatives to balance the health aspects and protecting the livelihoods of Batswana.”

Health and Wellness minister, Lemogang Kwape this evening said while the lockdown in Greater Gaborone would be lifted, alcohol sales would remain suspended nationally.