A fruit processing company on Monday sacked 250 security guards on grounds of failure to protect the company’s assets from vandalism.
While making the changes, the company's hierarchy noted that it would replace the sacked guards with a batch from another security firm.
The company stated the decision was prompted by high rates of fruit theft at its farms.
Further, the company's management accused the sacked guards of doing little to prevent criminal activity within company property.
Human Rights Impact Assessment (HRIA) in its report backed the dismissal of the security guards and urged the company to outsource trained personnel.
“Given the company’s reputation and alignment with the HRIA findings, the company has engaged (security firm) to oversee security operations," the organisation said in a statement.
The security firm is set to deploy about 270 security guards to the company's property.
The new guards will first undergo rigorous training on how to secure the company's property and deal with theft.
Besides this, they will also receive training on how to foster good relationships with residents.
Immediately after the company implemented the decision, the sacked guards staged demonstrations at the company's headquarters.
They accused the management of unwarranted sackings.
The changes also follow a series of security incidents reported at the company's property.
