Wailing at VRA: 700 Workers to be laid off

Information reaching the Daily Searchlight newspaper indicates that about 700 workers of the Volta River Authority (VRA) would soon be laid off as part of measures to re-structure the company.

According to workers, management of VRA met with their Union executives on Thursday to communicate the development to them. The newspaper has learnt that VRA secured a fifty million dollar loan facility to finance the retrenchment.

We have learnt that workers working under the three subsidiaries to the VRA namely; Hospital, VRA Schools and Real Estates/Security at Akosombo, Akuse, Tema and Aboadzi would be laid off. The workers said the criteria for the layoff would be the number of years a worker has served at the Volta River Authority.

Scores of VRA workers who phoned into the offices of the Daily Searchlight stated that this development has created tension among workers. They said the VRA will pay a redundancy package to workers due to the number of years they have served, and they would cease to be workers from October 1, 2012.

They stated that though some of the workers are happy about the package, others find it very distasteful. The workers said VRA is establishing a new company known as PRODCO; and that those who would be laid off could apply and work under new conditions of service.

They wondered who would be in charge of security and the other facilities. The workers further wondered why the downsizing of the company had not received approval in parliament.

“The VRA was established through an Act of Parliament. We believe that if such massive changes are contemplated it should be discussed in parliament, since it has massive socio-economic implications,” the workers said.

The accused Eng. Kirk Koffie, the Chief Executive Officer, of mismanaging VRA.

“We have a simple question for him. He should tell us what he knows about vehicle with registration number GR9732-09. It would make some interesting telling,” they said.