Photos by Keno George
Gafoors yesterday began redeploying hundreds of workers who were affected by the fire that devastated the company’s Houston Complex on Monday, leaving billions of damage in its wake.
Up to yesterday, the cause of the fire, which was said to have started in a bond located in the western section of the compound before quickly spreading to other sections, remained unknown.
As a result, however, close to 60% of the complex was destroyed, leaving more than 500 employees displaced.
Scores of employees turned up at the Houston location yesterday morning for a meeting that was held by the major hardware company on their employment status.
Executive Chairman of the company Sattaur Gafoor later said that the meeting was held to apprise the employees of what took place on Monday and to discuss their redeployment to the company’s other four branches, located at Nismes, Parika, Land of Canaan and Beterverwagting.
Gafoor further disclosed that those who could not be absorbed by the other branches will be occupying the front of the Houston building that was left untouched by the fire. He explained that they hope to be up and running in the next few days, with the installation of air conditioning units as well as electricity and phone lines.
In the meantime, he explained, the workers who are directly affected and cannot work will be paid 50% of their salaries, while others will remain on location and work in their departments that have not been destroyed by the fire.
Gafoor was unable to estimate the damage suffered but he noted that in terms of the building and the stocks that were destroyed, the cost could possibly amount to billions of dollars.
Nevertheless, he remained hopeful that once they are cleared by the insurance company, repairs to the building would begin immediately. “Within two months’ time, everybody would be back,” he said.
