The French group Bolloré announced on March 31 exactly the sale of its logistics activities in Africa to the Italian-Swiss shipowner MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company). Some of its 900 workers at its CongoTerminal subsidiary, which manages the port of Pointe-Noire, are wondering about the future of their jobs. Managers assure that there will be no layoffs.
With our special correspondent in Pointe-Noire, Loicia Martial
In the port of Pointe-Noire, at the end of the afternoon, many vehicles transport containers, petroleum products or even logs.
In the cab of a crane, 42 meters above the ground, the driver is visibly at ease, as is one of his assistants. The latter does not know what his future will be in the company after the takeover of Bolloré shares by MSC. ” Nobody knows the true motivations of the buyer. It can surprise us with layoffs, downsizing “, he worries. “ We were told that no one will move from their post. But, we wait to see to believe “says another agent on condition of anonymity.
For his part, Christophe Pujalte, regional director of Bolloré transport and logistics for the two Congos, reassures all the workers. ” It doesn’t change anything for us. We are clear: it is not an asset buyback, but a share buyback. MSC buys back shares. It changes absolutely nothing for us in contractual terms. And, it will change absolutely nothing for our employees in contractual terms. In addition, they [les gestionnaires de MSC] certified they would keep the job. We have only to believe them and we are totally serene in the face of that »
It was in 2009 that Bolloré obtained the concession for the port of Pointe-Noire for 30 years. Around one million containers passed through this port, of which 900,000 were in transit.