Through an internal memo seen by Kenyans.co.ke, Radio Africa Group has given a 30 days notice to its employees, indicating its intention to declare an unknown number of journalists redundant.
The memo signed by the group CEO Patrick Quarcoo dated Monday, November 18, cited the downward pressure on total revenue as the main reason that has led to this drastic measure.
“In accordance with the provisions of section 40 of the Employment Act, No 11 of 2007, Radio Africa Limited hereby gives one(1) month’s notice of the intended redundancies.” reads the memo in part.
“In line with the current HR handbook, Radio Africa Limited shall give the employees declared redundant one(1) month’s notice or, alternatively, pay one(1) month salary in lieu of notice and severance pay at the rate of (15) fifteen days pay for each year of service.
“Further the affected employees will be paid up to and including the date of termination all statutory dues,” further read the memo.
The media group cited the previous four years as a period of the great depression in earnings for both local and international media, therefore the need for restructuring that may involve cutting down on costs.
“We are now five months into our new financial year and we continue to experience downward pressure on total revenue. This now requires a phased restructuring of our business which may include reorganization of job positions, job roles, as well as operational and divisional structures in the company,” the internal memo further reads.
Radio Africa Group owns several popular media brands which include Kiss FM, Classic FM, The Star Newspaper, Radio Jambo, East FM, Gukena FM, Smooth FM, and Homeboyz Radio.
In 2013, Radio Africa Group undertook a similar exercise after facing dwindling profits, where 75 employees lost their jobs in a move intended to bring down running costs.
Several sources who spoke to Kenyans.co.ke confirmed having received the internal memo but indicated that it was apparently only sent to radio and production staff with the editorial staff we spoke to yet to receive the redundancy notice.
This step comes barely two weeks after Mediamax Network Limited engaged in a similar exercise that led to laying off of 160 employees on October 30 after serving a similar notice of 30 days.
Most affected were presenters and senior editors from K24 TV, Kameme TV, People Daily newspaper and Kameme Fm stations.
