WITH LOCAL and regional political upheaval, social unrest, parastatal problems and economic belt-tightening, a question doing the rounds in the freight industry is whether this has prompted a rush of employees looking for foreign postings. They certainly haven’t been rushing to her doors, according to Dr Lynn Ribton- Turner, head of Ribton-Turner Recruitment. It’s a continuing pattern, she added: “A steady stream of people looking at foreign postings in the likes of Dubai, the UK and Australia, rather than a tsunami effect.” But, Ribton-Turner said, the local jobs market in the freight industry is still vibrant – with both offers and applicants in some numbers. “There are still good jobs available here, and salaries are holding,” she told FTW, “although not quite as hectic as last year, and the first quarter of this one.” Lee Botti, MD of Lee Botti & Associates, agreed with this market summary. “We have not received a lot of job assignments as a result of people emigrating and leaving posts open,” she said. “We have heard of several international companies approaching South Africans, flying them over for interviews in Australia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the like. And there have been a number of clients who have indicated that their staff are applying for emigration. “But it has not been the focal reason for recruitment at this stage.”
