Authority downsizing workforce

THE Lae City Authority is set to downsize its workforce of 600 to 94 in an upcoming restructure, an official says.
Lae MP John Rosso said the restructure had been approved by the Department of Personnel Management (DPM) and would take effect in due course.
He said a smaller staff would be easier to manage to ensure work was being done in the city and would save the authority money and cut down on wastage.
Rosso said many of the staff to be made redundant were of retiring age.
“DPM is currently working with the authority to make sure the entitlements of workers are met so we can allow them to leave the service,” he said.
“For those who still want to continue to work they will have to go to the Morobe government which is the administering body.”
Rosso said in efforts for transparency, the authority recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Lae Urban local level government (LULLG) to collect all revenue, manage all funds and ensure appropriate services were carried out in the city.
“I’m grateful to the current councillors who have been very supportive in ensuring that the city and its taxpayers get the services they deserve,” he said.
“The LULLG’s job now is to make laws and passing the budget and allowing the authority to run the business of providing services in a professional way; that’s the way it should be done.”