Several Brand Managers attached to the Saint Lucia branch of Acado are now facing uncertainty after a wave of sudden redundancies, reportedly triggered by sweeping changes at the company’s parent operations in Trinidad.
The situation came to light on Thursday after Saint Lucia Daily Post was alerted to concerns from affected workers, many of whom say the process unfolded abruptly and without sufficient warning.
According to accounts shared with this publication, employees were called in individually, issued dismissal letters, and instructed to return company-issued items, including laptops and access cards, on the spot. Several workers also indicated that compensation packages were offered, but some have raised concerns about whether those packages align with expectations under local labour standards.
The matter has since been escalated to the Labour Department, which is now engaged in reviewing the circumstances surrounding the redundancies on behalf of affected employees.
The National Workers Union, which represents workers at Acado, is also understood to be involved in ongoing discussions, advocating for those impacted by the decision.
Reports suggest that while certain positions were declared redundant, displaced employees may be eligible to apply for newly structured roles within the company. However, some workers have questioned the fairness and transparency of the process, noting that not all roles appear to have been equally affected by the restructuring.
Saint Lucia Daily Post reached out to Acado’s Human Resources Manager for an official response but was informed that she was not in a position to comment at this time. Efforts to obtain a comment from union leadership were also unsuccessful, as the relevant representative was unavailable.
As the situation continues to unfold, affected workers and their representatives are expected to seek clarity on both the rationale behind the restructuring and the adequacy of the support being provided in its aftermath.
