Hayles Calls on Prime Minister to Intervene in NWC Sick-Out Crisis
Kingston, Jamaica. April 22, 2025: Opposition Spokesperson on Water, Ian Hayles, is calling on Prime Minister Andrew Holness to urgently intervene in the ongoing sick-out by maintenance workers in the engineering department of the National Water Commission (NWC).
The affected department is responsible for several critical functions, including the chlorination of water and the repair of water main breaks nationwide. With workers now off the job due to dissatisfaction with the outcomes of the recent public sector compensation review, Hayles is raising alarm about the potential risks to public health and water safety.
“These workers play a vital role in ensuring that our water supply is safe and reliable,” Hayles said. “Chlorination is not optional, it is essential. Any disruption in this service compromises the safety of the water reaching Jamaican households.”
Hayles acknowledged the recent verbal comments made by the Minister with responsibility for water but insisted that the seriousness of the situation calls for a more direct and high-level response.
“This is not the time for platitudes. We need the Prime Minister to step in and take this matter seriously. The safety of the public’s water supply cannot be treated lightly.”
He also raised concerns about the fairness of the compensation review process.
“If the government got it right for Members of Parliament, why couldn’t they get it right for these frontline workers who are so critical to the well-being of the Jamaican people?” he asked.
Hayles is calling for urgent dialogue between the government and the affected workers. “We cannot afford to have this kind of breakdown in the water sector when the NWC is already struggling to meet the needs of the public. The Prime Minister must intervene now, for the safety of the Jamaican people and the integrity of our water system.”
