Ethio Telecom: World Class Operator or World Class Oppressor????

 

I am writing this article to express my deepest grievances as
     1. A subscriber or customer
     2. An employee and 
     3. A concerned citizen 
Who is after all not disappointed by Ethio Telecom services?

December 2, 2010 Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporations (ETC), the oldest telecom operator in Africa, was officially replaced by Ethio Telecom (ET). France Telecom overtook the managerial role of the company for two and a half years contract amassing over 30 million Euros. The white guys pledged that they would build “A World Class Operator” within the given period.

 They started their work by firing former employees of Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation. Over 9 thousand employees were dismissed. The stability of the company was shacked to the root; rumors became the official communication systems. Almost all employees went frantic...favoritism, nepotism, bribery, extortion and corruption overtook HR recruiting role. Some higher officials traded their power for sexual craving. Debris of abuse was everywhere.

To realize a so called world class operator, the French guys destroyed the core values of the over hundred years old company: customer handling and employee satisfaction became worse than ever.

ETC used to sponsor for its employees to pursue higher education specializations, advanced trainings and international certifications which are basic for the advancement of any visionary company. The French management advised Debrtsion Gebremichael to condemn such things. Debrtsion never hesitated to do so while he was personally pursuing his PHD.

Why EPRDF did outsource ET management?

Because, just like its predecessors, the EPRDF government does not believe in the professional skills of Ethiopians… it is a worshiper of foreign nationals. The late PM once scornfully labeled Ethiopian engineers even as incapable of laying out cables. At ET Ethiopian engineers are mere facilitators of foreign engineers especially from China, India, and Philippines. As a result, most ET employees are deliberately incapacitated both technically and managerially. That is why the French managers, including the CEO, are not replaced by Ethiopians even after the contract has been officially terminated.

Did the French CEO and his higher officers deliver what they wished?

According the contract they had to score over 75 percent to continue and over 95 percent to get a handsome bonus. Debrtsion said “The company scored 83; therefore, it received what was stipulated in the contract, although some amount has been deducted, because they did not honor some parts of the agreement.” Well, had the company invested over 30 million Euros on its employees and on network expansion it would have achieved more than this. Moreover, it would have created a sense of ownership in its employees which in turn would have enhanced customer satisfaction. Now, the most outstanding employees have left the company and the remaining are there out of lack of better alternatives. This is a sheer failure indeed.

The French managers were also good at copying another company’s logo to replace the older one. Now, the selection of another logo is underway. The knowledge transferred to ET employees is not just like one being hailed by Debretsion.

Patric (customer service chief officer) used to spend most office hours at a nearby café after having coffee and some cake. Anyone who had been to Patric’s office will never forget his taboo words.

Eric Franchon (IS Division CIO) will also be remembered for scaring the hell out of ET employees. He used to round from office to office shouting and groaning like a dare devil. That idiot white man has smoked our company like his cigarettes.

Most of those France Telecom pensioners were expert womanizers not company builders as Debretsion considered them.

That is why neither ET employees nor customers are satisfied even after three years foreign managerial control with an extremely luxurious payment. Customer service handling and employee motivation are worse than ever. If the company genuinely envisions to achieve world class standards, it must invest on its indispensable assets...employees. And then, the employees in turn won't hesitate to invest their knowledge and skills to satisfy customer demands.