BPC workers' union general secretary, Bohithetswe Lentswe told Mmegi Business that staff are scared because job losses are 'inevitable' if the consultants from Electricity Supply Board International take over. BPC has nearly 2,000 workers. "The union met with the management this morning (yesterday) and were told that the consultants will assess the corporation's systems, operations and shortcomings," Lentswe said.
"This is something we have just been told. We want to take it forward as a stakeholder and see what our input is. Job losses are inevitable in such exercises and it's something that we are afraid of," he asserted. He said workers received a notice of possible rationalisation last year, although nothing has happened since then. It is currently unclear how the union will relate to the Irish consultancy, as its labour agreement is with the existing BPC management. The latest developments at BPC follows an announcement by Minerals, Energy and Water Resources' Minister, Kitso Mokaila last week that talks are ongoing with Electricity Supply Board International (ESBI) for a two to three year management contract to manage BPC. The minister told Mmegi Business that government's intention is not to lay off workers but to turn around the utility's financial and technical performance.
