Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) chairman Ravindra Nanga, who was yesterday awarded senior counsel title, says the authority is taking steps to ensure jobs are not affected by its transformation plan.
After approximately 200 WASA managers were retrenched in 2022, with no word on whether or not more workers will be cut, employees at the utility company remain apprehensive about their job security.
However, Nanga yesterday said while changes are currently being made at the top level, it’s still premature to say whether non-managerial employees will have to find other means of employment.
If workers are let go, he assured proper consultation will take place prior.
Nanga said, “I am taking it very slowly to ensure that it is done properly. It would be quite an embarrassment for me as the chairman should we get things wrong … I personally am very cautious. We have legal advisers.
“With the transformation ongoing, no firm decision has been taken in terms of persons to be let go. We found a very dysfunctional authority and if we are able to turn that around, the first port of call will be the restructuring of management. We found very weak management there, so that if the new managers are able to motivate the staff, there may not be need to let go staff or let go that many staff. So it’s a bit premature to be talking about staff being let go.”
He added, “As the Minister of Public Utilities (Marvin Gonzales) indicated, there may be some persons at the top level but certainly at the lower levels, it’s premature.”
Nanga said WASA has since employed eight new managers, all of whom will soon be on board.
These new hires include international people with speciality in the water sector.
WASA is also in the process of hiring a ninth manager, he said.
Nanga said the next level will include hiring 20 more people.
