Mercedes-Benz SA (MBSA) has retrenched 150 workers at its East London plant, the vehicle manufacturer said on Friday.

"To minimise the impact on our employees as much as possible, we tried our best to be sensitive, without dragging out the process unnecessarily," Johann Evertse, vice-president responsible for human resources and executive director, said.

Furthermore, to help employees who would ultimately receive voluntary retrenchment packages, MBSA had put in place a number of support initiatives, Evertse added.

"A special individual and family counselling service is available on call.

"An employment placement agency has been brought on-site to assist these employees, free-of-charge, with professional guidance in preparing a CV, to provide face-to-face interviews with a consultant, to provide career advice and mentoring in preparing for interviews, and to give assistance with on-line job applications," he said.

MBSA also had UIF officials available to provide advice to employees for accessing their UIF funds.

"A special holding period has been arranged for those employees who have had the use of company cars, as well as those who still have to make repayments on private car purchases," Evertse said.

According to MBSA, retrenchment has always been seen as a last resort.

Since the last quarter of 2008 measures implemented at the company included working at adjusted production levels to maintain low inventory levels; an earlier year-end production shutdown; a company-wide cost efficiency programme; a moratorium on employee appointments throughout the group; and an offer of voluntary early retirement or retrenchment.

Sapa