By Tania Govender, Sales Director at Worldwide Staffing
The GDP contribution of the transport and logistics sector across Africa is expected to grow from R349 billion in the first quarter of 2022 to R363 billion by 2024. This is an increase of 3.7%, making the logistics sector a driving force in contributing to the growth of South Africa’s economy.
As we approach the holiday season, the transport of goods will see its annual surge, putting immense pressure on the industry’s human resource pool. Given current economic conditions, logistics businesses will be hard-pressed to upscale their staffing complement to service the festive period. At the same time, unemployed but qualified workers in this sector will be scrambling to find temporary placements to cash in on the lucrative season.
The increase in holiday buying results in a massive demand for drivers and other workers to facilitate the movement of goods from supplier to buyer. A Temporary Employment Services (TES) partner can be instrumental in helping logistics companies upscale their staffing complement rapidly in response to seasonal demands.
More employees needed
Two major employment problems emerge during the holiday season. Permanent employees usually want to take their annual leave to spend time with their families, but the surge in holiday buying leads to a pressing need for even more hands on deck. With consumers demanding ever-faster delivery times, and the high costs associated with servicing the last mile, retailers and logistics operators are pushing to improve their distribution models and reduce inefficiencies. Often businesses turn to their existing staff complement to improve efficiencies and reduce turnaround times. Placing increased workloads over peak periods on the existing staff complement leads to worker fatigue and increases the risk of accidents, causing financial losses and risks of reputational damage to the business. For a logistics business to remain profitable, it needs to increase efficiency and output, and a TES partner is a cost-effective and efficient way to meet customer demands without placing undue pressure on internal resources.
Right people for the right job
A poorly sourced labour force that is required to provide a high output over a short period can work against company objectives and inadvertently increase costs whilst impacting growth. Having a TES provider take care of temporary staffing needs quickly and efficiently allows businesses to focus solely on operations. In this way, expanding the staffing force to meet seasonal fluctuation should not be seen as a business expense. This is because a temporary labour force that is highly competent and experienced will work towards fulfilling business objectives – moving more goods faster. Meeting customer expectations over the holiday season is particularly important as there is little room for error at this time; the more demand is met, the more growth the business can achieve.
Safety first
When selecting a TES provider business can benefit from access to a pool of screened and vetted candidates with experience in the logistics sector. This will facilitate not only their constant compliance with relevant labour laws but also their Occupational Health and Safety requirements, working towards reducing the risk of road accidents due to fatigue. This is particularly important where certain roles within the logistics sector, such as Heavy Motor Vehicle drivers, are strictly regulated. To ensure road safety, these drivers can only drive a specified number of hours per week after which they are legislatively compelled to take a break.
