Employers increasingly turn to temps

Lee Botti & Associates celebrates 25 years in the freight placement industry this year ... drinking a toast in Johannesburg last week (left) Gavin Wyngaard, Sebenza and Lydia Townsend, Lee Botti & Associates, Durban; and Pete Sands, NVOCC Freight Services and Andre Swanepoel, Bridge Shipping. Ray Smuts IT'S ALL about more flexible labour options Ð and frankly less hassle in the workplace Ð as more and more global employers turn to temporary staff, a huge mushrooming industry. Lee Botti should know. Celebrating her 25th anniversary specialising in the recruitment of shipping and travel staff with a special focus on temporary personnel, she can testify to the phenomenal growth of the 'temp' business in South Africa and around the world. "Temps will eventually become a way of life, to a certain degree, as companies have sporadic need for employers," she says. Recently returned from Tokyo where she attended an international conference on creating new and flexible working styles, Botti, m.d. of Lee Botti & Associates, says the trend toward 'temps' is even taking hold in the Land of the Rising Sun where the tendency has largely been to hold down a job for life. "Now employers are looking for more flexible employment solutions created around need and short time frames." Had it not been for deep recession which has gripped all of Asia, Japan would probably have moved further ahead in temping. The industry in Tokyo itself grew by 25% in the first half of last year but declined slightly over the first quarter of 2002 due to the sluggish economy. Japan still has restraints on the temporary employment industry making large inroads, among them a total ban on jobs in the manufacturing industry and no 'temp' position being held for longer than a year. "Unlike South Africa with its 45-hour working week, Germany has a 35- hour week so permanent staff are working fewer hours but costing more resulting in many companies turning to a more flexible labour force. "In South Africa, the temporary employment industry is becoming stronger as employers also realise the benefits of 'temps' and an increasing number of companies are taking people on contracts." Botti explains if a company is looking at its bottom line it is better to get people in for a shorter or longer period rather than being faced with the responsibility of looking after employees for the remainder of their working lives. As the world recession bites and workers are being laid off, the temporary contract industry is becoming the "salvation" for both commerce and the work force and its huge future potential is no doubt behind the buy-out of several substantial recruitment agencies including Kelly and Quest, by large corporations. With around 13 recruitment companies concentrating on the maritime industry in South Africa, Botti reports a definite swing back to employment of controllers, mainly on exports, as well as sales and clerical staff. With branches in Cape Town, Durban, Sandton and East Rand, Lee Botti and Associates is gearing to offer clients a "one stop" solution in permanent, temporary and contractual staff, as well as executive consultants and the full spectrum of HR services, and salary surveys in the freight industry. New trend toward more flexible solutions