Public Utilities Minister Assures WASA Workers Their Jobs Are Safe
Minister of Public Utilities Barry Padarath has committed to keeping employees of the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) in their jobs.
During Day Two of the Standing Finance Committee, the Minister, responding to questions from the Opposition, explained that the Authority employs different categories of workers, with short-term employees operating under terms and conditions that differ from those of established staff.
« And therefore, this is a usual practice of a notice being served to persons once you’re short-term. That is why in the budget books it says short-term employment. »
He explained that it is customary for short-term contract workers to be engaged for three months or six months, as needed by the Authority.
Minister Padarath reiterated that the Government is committed to ensuring that all established workers at WASA remain employed.
He said: « There must be an assessment of the needs for short-term employment, but as I have indicated before, the variation in the figures that the member has presented has to do with employees in the establishment, and therefore there will be no interference in terms of sending any of these employees in the establishment home at WASA. Unlike him, we are committed to keeping WASA employees employed. »
