A worker assembles parts to be used in the engine of a BMW X3 on the production line at the BMW South Africa Pty Ltd. Rosslyn plant in South Africa.SA's automotive industry might have to lay off up to 10% of its workforce because of the three-week Covid-19 lockdown, according to an industry-wide survey provided to Reuters by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA .
It was on Wednesday submitted to the government, which issued the same questionnaire to a range of industries to gauge the impact of the lockdown or any extension as it grapples with close to 1,900 coronavirus cases and a shrinking economy.The government considers the motor industry its most important manufacturing sector and that it is central to reviving SA's flagging economy via industrialisation.
The vast majority of those jobs are in the retail sector. Manufacturing accounts for around 110,000 of the jobs, the survey said. Estimated potential SME closures rose to between 21% and 30% in a lockdown ending May 8 or at the end of May, according to the survey, which only provides a rough estimate of the aggregate impact on the industry as a whole.
Many other companies big & small will head the same way. Pity the families where their sole IncomeProvider will end up losing his/her job.. Where to from there.. Fear Anxiety Uncertainty is at the too of most people's minds right now .
Plus, we approaching winter time and with this global pandemic downsizing inevitable in most companies, not only in SA but worldwide. It's affecting all levels of life.
Shame man, all those families that’ll be affected by this! My heart bleeds