Urban unit workers' jobs 'guaranteed'

The General Workers' Union said yesterday it had obtained a guarantee from the government over the jobs of 360 workers in the agriculture department's urban and rural landscaping section.

The union said the guarantee followed a government decision to transfer the section's operations, together with the embellishment of roundabouts, public gardens and other projects, to the public-private partnership scheme.

The union said the workers who were to form part of the pilot project would remain in the public service and their pay would continue to be issued by the Treasury.

The GWU said it also obtained the required guarantees regarding pension rights. During the time the workers in question would work for the private sector, they would continue to enjoy their present rights and conditions.

These workers would also have the right to benefit from other increases or structure revisions as well as benefits that could be acquired for government employees.

The government said on Tuesday it would start talks with the consortium that submitted the best proposal for a public- private partnership project to embellish the environment.

It said negotiations were expected to lead to an agreement over how the embellishment of the country could be carried out economically, effectively and efficiently.

If agreement was not reached, the government said it could start negotiations with the promoter of the second best proposal.