Morgan Says One Road Authority Will Expand Jobs in Jamaica’s Road Sector

The Government says public-sector workers in agencies that could be affected by the proposed One Road Authority should not see the reform as a plan to remove them from their jobs.

Hon. Robert Morgan, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development with responsibility for Works, said the planned changes to Jamaica’s road-management system are being designed to open up more space for employment, not to cut staff.

“It is not the intention of the Government to use the One Road Authority to remove people from positions within the organisations that are being impacted,” he said.

Speaking recently at a JIS Think Tank, Mr. Morgan said some agencies may be brought together over time, but the workload in the sector is expected to become much wider. He said that expansion should create a need for additional technical and management support.

“I suspect that we are going to need more engineers, more road supervisors and more managers because while you’re merging entities, you’re expanding the scope of their work,” he said.

The Minister said the proposed framework would also set up a separate regulatory function inside the larger body, with national responsibilities. He said that unit would include a Commissioner of Roads and its own staff complement.

“You’re creating within that big entity another entity called the regulator… a Commissioner of Roads… which is going to have its own staff. It’s going to have inspectors spanning the entire country working with Municipal Corporations and the One Road Authority,” he explained.

Mr. Morgan said the reform should benefit persons already employed in Government as well as people now preparing to enter the labour market. He pointed to prospects for university graduates with engineering qualifications, along with workers trained in regulatory affairs, accounting and auditing.

“So, the opportunities are there for both persons within the government and outside,” Minister Morgan explained.

He also said further jobs are expected through the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority, which he described as an entity that will need fresh staff as it oversees major investment contracts.

“This is going to be desperate for new staff, as it is going to be an organisation that will manage billions of dollars of investment contracts to rebuild the society,” he said.

Mr. Morgan acknowledged that employees across agencies involved in the reform have raised concerns. He said the Government has heard those concerns and remains focused on safeguarding and strengthening workers.

“So, my colleagues in the various entities, we have sensed the concerns. We are not here to disenfranchise. We are here to empower,” the Works Minister affirmed.