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A meeting is to get underway shortly at the Ministry of Labour to end the strike by employees of the National Water Commission (NWC).
The meeting was scheduled for 12:30 but has been delayed to allow all union representatives to arrive.
NWC President Mark Barnett says operations are severely affected as the protest by more than 2,000 employees has caused islandwide disruption in water supply.
The NWC says the action, which was taken without notice, is to register workers' displeasure with the process of salary review for staff.
The entity says the management is working to maintain supply delivery while negotiating through the Ministries of Labour and Finance to resolve the matter.
Asked when he believed normal operations would resume, Mr. Barnett said he could not give a "definitive response" but hinted that it would be dependent on the outcome of negotiations.
NWC employees have padlocked gates and doors at the entity's offices islandwide and mounted placards expressing their demands.
Winston Anderson, National Workers Union Chief Union Delegate, said all workers, including managers, are part of the protest regarding a reclassification exercise, which he said has been lingering for more than a decade.
Mr. Anderson insisted the protest will continue until there is a favourable response from the government.
Hospitals
If the NWC strike is prolonged it could start affecting hospitals.
Radio Jamaica News has been informed that public hospitals currently have adequate supplies of water stored.
Errol Greene, Regional Director of the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA), told Radio Jamaica News that he had received information that there could be a possible strike so water was stored at all facilities. However, he said supplies at some institutions like Kingston Public Hospital can only last for two days.
Mr. Greene said other health facilities such as clinics are being closely monitored.
Fire Brigade
The Jamaica Fire Brigade is reporting that it has had to find alternative sources to refill trucks as fire hydrants have little to no water.
Julian Davis Buckle, Assistant Commissioner for Area Two, said the brigade has been forced to use open sources to replenish its tanks.
She said the brigade is in dialogue with persons from NWC.
Schools
The Ministry of Education said it has not received any report of schools closing due to lack water.
The ministry said it will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates.
Businesses
Business have not yet been negatively affected by the NWC strike, according to the Jamaica Employers' Federation (JEF).
JEF President David Wan said most companies have water tanks and there has so far been minimal impact on the number of employees showing up for work.
However, he is concerned about the possible effects, especially on productivity, if the strike continues.
Resolve urgently
The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) is calling for an urgent resolution of the issue which led to the strike at the NWC.
In a release, the PSOJ said the impacts are far-reaching for both the parties directly involved and NWC customers.
The PSOJ said water lock-offs will be a major impediment to the recovery efforts of businesses across all sectors, as health standards will require offices to be closed in the absence of clean, potable water.
It noted that this, compounded by the fact that the country is dealing with the spread of COVID-19 cases will cause alarm.
Opposition
The parliamentary opposition has also called for the government to resolve the issues which have led to the work stoppage at the NWC.
Lothan Cousins, Opposition Spokesman on Water, said he is deeply concerned about the situation.
He argued that the workers' actions "speaks volumes as to what is not happening at the NWC in terms of the government showing some respect for the workers".
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