–possible placement at other agencies being explored

IN confirming that 76 employees were issued termination letters on Monday, effective from June 30, the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI), in a statement on Wednesday, noted that due process was followed prior to the decision, and all of the 76 employees will receive their severance benefits by the end of June.
The company noted that the 76 employees are part of a total of 157 persons who are listed to be sent off as part of GWI’s restructuring plans and rationalisation of the staffing establishment. Those who are to be sent off, will receive their letters within a three-month period.
“We wish to clarify that under the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act, a total of 157 staff are listed to be sent off as part of our restructuring plans and rationalisation of the staffing establishment.

This is to ensure the efficient and productive management of our daily operations,” GWI noted in a statement.
The company added: “The Board of Directors and Management of Guyana Water Incorporated have been making efforts to place employees in public and private organisations and will continue to engage more entities for this purpose.”
The company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Shaik Baksh, had confirmed since Thursday that there were plans to terminate over 100 employees.
During a press conference held at the company’s Vlissingen Road headquarter, Baksh noted that employment at the company had more than doubled over the past five years, rising from 600 employees in 2015 to 1,300 employees at the end of 2020.
Subsequently, employment costs had also more than doubled, rising from $96 million to $240 million in 2020. Baksh explained that the situation was not sustainable for the company.