Aveng: 350 SA headcount cut, but 'net staffing gain' overseas

According to Independent Online, listed construction and engineering group Aveng reduced its headcount by 350 people in the past year through a restructuring of its South African construction and manufacturing businesses. Roger Jardine, Aveng's chief executive, said the group had a net reduction in staffing levels in South Africa and a net gain outside the country. The SA Federation of Consulting Engineering Contractors (SAFCEC) estimates that 109 000 jobs were lost in the civil construction industry in the past year or two, Jardine said, noting that "we are not immune to that".

Headcount in Aveng Grinaker-LTA was reduced by about 150 people, Jardine said, and in the manufacturing businesses by about 200 people. He stressed that the growth in Aveng's international business "is not a conscious decision." Aveng is a 'Proudly South African' company with a global footprint. "When the [government] infrastructure programme happens," he said "we look forward to bidding competitively and being part of providing those solutions," Independent Online reports.

Read the full article on www.iol.co.za/business.