Unemployment threatens Montego Bay Free Zone workers
Published:Tuesday | July 26, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Sheena Gayle, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Some 219 employees at a Montego Free Zone company are fearing job separation without compensation following a decision by Olympic Sports Data Services to downsize its operations, on the grounds of "a fallout" in their customer base in the United States.
"We are not sure of the company's intention and as to whether or not we will be paid for our years of service," said a long-time employee at the company, who did not wish to be identified.
The Gleaner received a copy of a memorandum dated Saturday, July 23, 2011, that the company purportedly gave employees to sign and return within 24 hours. The correspondence stated in part that "due to the current environment the company is faced with, we have found it necessary to eliminate a large part of our customer business."
The document added: "Regrettably, this loss of business will result in the downsizing and reorganisation of the current company."
Olympic Sports is an Internet betting and bookmaking company, and has been operating in Jamaica since 1996.
The company operates as The Greek Sportsbook, following a name change in 2006. The US market represents 80 per cent of its business.
The memorandum was not placed on the company's letterhead and did not have a manager's signature affixed to it.
"If this new vision for the company is not something you are interested in, we are also offering the option of voluntary redundancy. If this is your interest, please put your name and signature next to the voluntary redundancy box below and you will be considered for voluntary redundancy based on the needs of the company," the memo further stated.
Layoff letter
Attempts to get further information from Marlene Moorse, the executive administrator for Olympic Sports, proved futile.
"No comment," she responded before ending a telephone call from The Gleaner.
The employee with whom The Gleaner spoke revealed that most of the employees who received the memo and chose the voluntary redundancy option were also given a "layoff letter" effective Monday, July 25.
There was no indication of a timetable when employees would receive their outstanding payments.
"They have not told us what is the underlying factor causing the business to downsize; they gave us one document to sign on Saturday and another on Sunday, none of which says when we will be paid. There are companies in the free zone (in the past) who have packed up and left with monies owed to employees and the workers fear the same will happen in this case," explained the concerned employee.