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AVRL workers petitions President Mills
By Abdul Salam Sule, Ghanadot
Accra, May 7, Ghanadot - Workers of
Aqua Vitens Rand Limited (AVRL), a private water company
managing Ghana water have petitioned the President to abrogate
the country's contract with the private water company.
According to the aggrieved workers, the current spate of water
shortages in the capital city was as a result of a poor
management by AVRL. They said, without
any explanation, the treatment plant have been shut down, hence
the acute water shortage.
"Various headworks and treatment centres reveal that treatment
facilities have been abandoned. As a result, a large number of
people are denied water in Ghana", they stated.
The workers contended that, when Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL)
was wholly managed by the state, water delivery was far better
and therefore, should
return to the state.
The workers have therefore called on the President to revoke the
contract agreement between the government of Ghana and AVRL.
They said, with the agreement made by AVRL and government of
Ghana, the ordinary Ghanaian gained nothing from the
arrangement, rather it is the expatriates (management) who are
enjoying by receiving fat salaries of about $ 20,000 per month.
They alleged that, the local workers in the company are facing
exploitation and maltreatment.
The workers accused AVRL for reneging on the details of the
collective bargaining agreement which they said amounted to
breach of their rights and privileges.
According to the workers, the collective bargaining agreement
was to ensure an upward salary adjustment by 20% but management
totally ignored the provision and increased it to 0.1%. "But
they have skyrocketed theirs well over 150%", they alleged.
The spokesman for the aggrieved workers, Mr Libanus Quason in an
interview said, if nothing is done about their petition, they
would advice themselves on their next line of action.
Meanwhile, the Presidency has promised to investigate the
allegations made by the workers and would soon come out with its
findings.
Ghanadot
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