PAG acquires freight recruitment specialist

Staffing provider the Professional Assignments Group (PAG), a member of the JSE-listed Kelly Group, has acquired freight recruitment specialist EMK Staffing Solutions to spearhead its entry into the freight, forwarding and clearing sector. EMK Staffing Solutions will now operate as a wholly owned division of PAG, focusing exclusively on comprehensive staffing solutions for the freight forwarding and clearing industry, covering all areas of the intermodal transportation industry including road, rail, air and shipping as well as imports, forwarding and clearing. Samantha Konkol, the founder of EMK, who has over 16 years’ experience in the freight industry, will head up the newly established freight recruitment division. PAG managing director Lawrence Wordon said that EMK’s clients would now be able to benefit from additional staffing services not previously available to them such as fixed term contract staffing, temporary staffing and access to services provided by its sister companies in the Kelly Group stable such as payroll and benefit administration. For EMK’s candidates, the benefits now include a provident fund, medical aid schemes and access to a 24-hour employee wellness programme. “PAG’s goal is to gain recognition as a recruitment partner of choice in the industry,” said Wordon. Konkol said she was keen to grow the business through PAG’s strategically positioned national footprint, 33 years of brand recognition and access to the infrastructure of a JSElisted company. “In addition, my clients will now benefit from PAG’s traditional recruitment strengths such as access to a quality database of skilled financial management and technical candidates,” she said.