IOT honours long-serving staff |04 October 2014

More than 100 staff of the Indian Ocean Tuna Ltd (IOT) who have completed 25, 20 and 10 years of service with the company have been rewarded for their continued contributions.

This was during the IOT’s annual employee long service award presentation on Saturday September 27 at the Savoy Seychelles Resort & Spa at Beau Vallon where they received their prizes, certificates and monetary gifts.

The ceremony was held in the presence of the Minister for Natural Resources Peter Sinon, Minister for Labour and Human Resource Development Idith Alexander, leader of the opposition in the National Assembly David Pierre, IOT general manager Joram Madnack, chairperson of the IOT board of directors Veronique Herminie and other board members, representatives of the Société Seychelloise d’Investissement, Financial Services Authority (FSA), Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA), employment services and Seychelles Ports Authority.

In his opening remarks on behalf of IOT and MW Brands management, GM Madnack told the 103 staff members – 71 who received the 10-year award, 18 the 20-year award, and 14 the 25-year award – that the management has a lot of respect towards them for having dedicated so many years working with IOT and the fishing industry.

“I’m sure that when you joined this company you never realised that you’ll reach here today. But you did it! Like some others, you could have changed five or even 10 jobs in a year. But you did not!

“Being with IOT for 10 years, 20 years and more importantly 25 years is not by coincidence or by accident. It’s a clear choice you have made to be committed to the IOT family. Your sense of belonging to the company is second to none,” said Mr Madnack.

Mr Madnack also thanked the staff’s families for their help in making their journey possible and by helping them deliver their best at work.
 
Expressing the wish for them to be happy in their work, the general manager then mentioned the various achievements of the factory. These include two salary increases in the last 21 months, an incentive scheme that will be implemented in the next two-three months, financial support in terms of interest-free loans, investing in the training of staff in all areas of business including overseas training in 2015 following the successful exchange programme with Thai Union Frozen Products company.

He also spoke about the continuous steps being taken by the factory to make the work environment more comfortable and safer and to involve workers in the corporate responsibility programme.

Mr Madnack also outlined his company’s plans and vision for the future. These include investing around €30m in key projects in the next two-three years. The projects consist of a waste water treatment plant, cold store extension, staff accommodation, safety, quality and to improve productivity and efficiency.

He also highlighted the uniqueness of IOT in its diversity and complexity. With a workforce of 2,300 workers, the company is represented by 16 nationalities, 10 religions, 23 departments with 73 sub-sections and 44 shift patterns.

For his part, Minister Sinon expressed his and the government’s pride of the IOT staff’s dedication, commitment and devotion, and at the same time informed them of one very important aspect of IOT – that of its achievement in the world.

“You are number one. In the region definitely you are number one. You produce more than anybody else – more than our competitors,” said the minister while also recognising the difficulties encountered, namely increased costs.

Making reference to a recorded speech by the chief executive and president of Thai Union Frozen Products company, Thiraphong Chansiri, during which he made reference to increasing production by 2020 and for the staff to continuously improve their performance, Minister Sinon said: “For you to have encouraged him, given him all the energy and the confidence to make that decision, you should be very, very proud of yourself.”

The minister also acknowledged that it is no easy work for the IOT staff as he has had the privilege to see hands on what happens in the factory.

“You are there. And when we collect the small tin of tuna from a supermarket shelf and some of us who have seen you in the factory do realise it is not an easy job. You are there 10 years later. You are there 25 years later. And you make us very proud,” said Minister Sinon.

He made special mention of Seychellois workers who were reluctant at the beginning to join the IOT but are now standing side by side with their foreign colleagues and are delivering.

There were also presentations from various stakeholders of the company.

The chief executive and president of Thai Union Frozen Thiraphong Chansiri also congratulated the awardees and expressed his wish for improved performance on their part.

Mrs Herminie congratulated the staff for staying on at IOT and wished for their continued support for the factory to keep growing.

David Sankowicz, a member of MW Brands Group Leadership Team – one of the partners of IOT, said he was here to celebrate the contributions and commitment of the IOT staff and urged them to remain competitive and to be innovative. He also thanked the Seychelles government for its support.

IOT quality operations manager Julie Kowlessur also congratulated her colleagues by saying: “On behalf of the IOT management we thank you for your time, patience, hard work and sacrifices. You need to take pride in these achievements as you are the pillars of the organisation.”

In her vote of thanks on behalf for her colleagues, 25-year awardee Lise Raoul thanked the IOT for organising this event.

It’s not only work at the IOT canning factory. It also has its own group of musicians and singers. They performed a song with the theme ‘love’. The song is entitled Senm Lanmour.

The accompanying photos show groups of IOT workers who have clocked 10, 20 and 25 years of service with the company.