Only one-third of the division’s personnel are certified or are knowledgeable about their assigned field work.
There are 45 personnel for water, and 18 for wastewater, according to the list provided by CUC.
CUC assistant executive director Utu Abe Malae admitted they need certified technicians in the water and wastewater division.
“Keep in mind that you can have ‘lots of bodies’ but that doesn’t mean you have all the right ones,” he said.
CUC, he added, must also expend extra time and effort to meet federal deadlines since the utilities, especially water and wastewater, are under federal stipulated orders.
“Once the utility is brought to a stage of normality, then we can start cutting back on personnel,” he said.
There is an advantage in hiring on a contractual basis because the tenure is limited to two years but with option to renew, he added.
At present, CUC has 297 slots for full-time employees and a budget of $7.5 million each year for personnel salary and wages.
CUC has also advertised more than 20 job vacancy announcements. Some of the positions are mandated by the stipulated orders.
