Council likely to cut workers

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THE BULAWAYO City Council has re-tendered its contract for job evaluation and rationalisation exercise in a development that may lead to massive retrenchments.

THE BULAWAYO City Council has re-tendered its contract for job evaluation and rationalisation exercise in a development that may lead to massive retrenchments.

BY NQOBILE BHEBHE

This is the third time in recent years that the local authority has invited tenders for its proposed staff rationalisation programme.

In 2012, the council was forced to abandon the tender under unclear circumstances with allegations that workers had arm-twisted the local authority into abandoning the exercise.

A council resolution had been passed to carry out a manpower skills audit aimed at restructuring the workforce “into a lean machine”.

Part of the new tender invitation reads: “City of Bulawayo invites tenders from suitably qualified and experienced management consultants to carry out job evaluation, rationalisation and organisational restructuring for the local authority.”

It was not immediately clear which departments were set to restructure and how long the exercise would last, but the move is expected to reduce the workforce and wage bill.

According to the latest council report, the local authority is owed $106 804 754, with domestic debtors accounting for $59 368 126, industrial and commercial debtors ($44 218 847) and government debt standing at $3 217 781.

This year, the local authority adopted a $158 million budget for 2015, with tariffs set to be increased by a marginal 4%.

The expenditure budget is pegged at $107 million and capital budget at $51 million.

This is the first time in two years that council has proposed to increase tariffs.