Minister of Public Utilities, Barry Padarath, has assured that “the government is hell-bent on keeping WASA employees in their jobs.”
The Minister made the statement on Day 2 of the Standing Finance Committee.
“So people will remain employed, which I know is a point that you’re getting at, people will remain employed but will be using the technology to cut down on the overtime and therefore get greater efficiency in the service.”
Minister Padarath was responding to Opposition Member Marvin Gonzales, who sought an explanation on the government’s move to automate services within the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA).
He clarified that technology will be implemented to work in tandem with monthly-paid workers and cut down on their overtime. He reassured that this move will not affect their employment.
“WASA will be embarking on a planned implementation of automation tools such as SCADA and biometrics, filling of vacancies, system operators and process plant operators via the reassignment from lower-level roles. The re-engineering of business processes is expected to reduce labour-intensive processes. So essentially, Member, this is to make the operations a bit more efficient utilising the automation tools and other technological areas from within the company.”
Mr. Gonzales also questioned the reduction of funds for daily-rated workers: “Minister, line item 29, overtime for daily-rated workers, I’m also seeing a reduction as well as 30, perhaps I think they’re both the same, overtime for daily-rated workers, allowances for daily-rated workers, seeing $26 million and a $5.6 million respectively in those two areas. Can you explain the reasons?”
Minister Padarath then offered an explanation: “The planned implementation of alternative work arrangements, such as the introduction of a shift system in some instances, the re-engineering of business processes to increase efficiency and reduce cost. So in some areas, what we have sought to do with the WASA Evolution Plan is that we have sought to harmonise some of these operational expenses in terms of productivity in areas such as overtime and so on to utilise the technology, utilise different work schedules.”
The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to review the operations and make the State entity more financially viable by cutting out wastage, mismanagement, and corruption.