Since 2022, more than 100 employees have left the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF), creating significant skill shortages within its workforce. This situation was brought to light during WAF’s “Annual Customer Forum” held in Suva this morning.
WAF’s Chief Operating Officer, Seru Soderberg, reported that the departures include 65 individuals in critical fields such as electrical and mechanical trades, technical positions, laboratory staff, GIS officers, surveyors, land valuers, and finance officers. He noted that these proficient workers are migrating primarily to Australia and New Zealand.
Chief Strategy and Information Officer, Seymour Singh, emphasized that this issue directly affects the water sector and needs urgent attention. He also mentioned that WAF is losing talent not only to international markets but also to other industries within Fiji.
The Annual Customer Forum aims to provide updates on WAF’s developments and projects while addressing various issues and gathering feedback on service delivery. Additionally, the forum seeks to increase awareness and promote behavioral changes in the community regarding water conservation, waste management, and the broader range of WAF services.