THE Community Environment Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP) employees have been given a mobile portable potty for their personal convenience.

However, some employees view the move as blatant disrespect to them.

One employee who preferred anonymity believes the main reason for the introduction of the “portapotte” is the extra hour being added to their workday.

Employees usually worked from 7 a.m. to noon, but the knock-off time is now 1 p.m. and the toilet added.

One of the portable toilets
on a van.

“The toilet is located inside the tray of a van that passes around the different CECEP working areas daily.

“When he arrives at your location, he stops the vehicle, goes to the back of the van and pulls out a ladder for you to climb up to the toilet.

The worker added: “It is very embarrassing to us.”

“Inside the toilet booth is a mini sink to wash your hands, but directly below the sink is the male urinal.

“So the water you wash your hands with is the same water washing down the men’s urine.”

Salary was another issue for employees.

“County Council workers were paid a lot more money than CEPEP workers for similar services and their time was never tampered with.

“Why is it we must be subjected to the embarrassment of a portable toilet facility following us around just because an extra hour was added to our work load?

The worker complained that CEPEP employees only receive $75 per day whereby County Council staff receives significantly more.

“They work less hours than us and still getting more money!”

Employees also complained about having to foot the bill for inferior uniforms.

A shirt costs $75 and a pants $150.

“We are calling on the management of SWMCOL to grant us holidays off with pay,” said one employee, referring to Solid Waste Management Company Limited.

If workers are off on a holiday in the week, they usually have to work on a Saturday in order to get a full week’s pay.

“We have to work this coming Saturday in order to get paid for the day off we have on Good Friday and the following Saturday for Easter Monday.

“This is blatant victimisation.

“Why can’t we get the day off with pay like every other public servant?

“That is not fair!”

On another grouse, the employee noted: “Our whacker operators do not have any goggles.

“This impairs their vision to a certain point.

“If they break a car glass or someone’s window while using the piece of equipment, they have to pay for it out of their pockets because the contractor said that he is not responsible for that.

“However, we find them responsible because if the goggles were provided then whacker men would have been able to see further distances to know if a car was close by to angle their equipment properly.

“We are calling for better work equipment, a raise of pay and days off with pay on public holidays in order to do a more efficient job.”

The idea of having a mobile facility was due to the fact that workers move around on a day-to-day basis and do not stay one spot for any lengthy period.

A public relations representative noted that normally there were no roadside toilet facilities where employees work.

As such, they were forced to use toilet facilities at restaurants where they were not always welcome, hence the birth of the mobile unit.

The representative maintained that her organisation has not yet received any complaints about the mobile toilet.

Atiba further related that CEPEP workers must work a particular amount of hours in order to receive a specific salary.

“CEPEP workers are not public servants; they are contract workers, that is why they work an extra day if they miss a holiday work, in order to make up for the lost pay.

Responding to another complaint, Atiba pointed out that whacker operators were provided with goggles and if their batch had none they should consult their contractor because the company has already provided the equipment.