SA clears way for Wal-Mart

yesterday the US retail giant’s bid to buy a controlling stake in local firm Massmart.
“We have decided to approve the merger subject to the undertakings made by the parties becoming conditions for the approval,” South Africa’s anti-trust tribunal said in a statement.

Key among those promises was a pledge by the world’s largest retailer not lay off any workers for two years.
“The merged entity must ensure that there are no retrenchments, based on the merged entity’s operational requirements in South Africa, resulting from the merger for a period of two years.”

In January, Wal-Mart signed a US$2,5 billion offer for a controlling stake in Massmart, which runs nine wholesale and retail chains with 288 stores in 14 African countries.
The deal raised concerns from South Africa’s politically powerful unions over labour practices at Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart was given an order to honour the existing labour agreements and practices of the Massmart group and not challenge the position of the country’s largest retail sector labour union, the South Africa Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu).

“The effect on employment may not be confined to the jobs of those employed by the merged firm, it may extend to those not employed by the firm, but whose jobs may be threatened as a result of the merger,” the tribunal said.
The deal will for the first time give Arkansas-based Wal-Mart a foothold in Africa and increase its market share in emerging markets, which have been driving its profits as US retail sales have slowed. – AFP.