DEWA’s precautionary measures support mental and physical health of staff

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (DEWA’s) staff expressed their pride on resuming office work and contributing to business continuity. They praised DEWA’s precautionary measures, which improve their sense of security and safety. DEWA’s facilities have been prepared according to the highest standards to protect the health and safety of employees, customers, and society as a whole.

The measures include the continuous sterilisation of DEWA’s facilities; providing disinfectants, hand sanitisers, facemasks, and gloves. DEWA has thermal cameras at its entry points; and implementing flexible working hours to limit congestion when entering or leaving, and dedicating different entry and exit points to keep safe distance. DEWA has an agreement with specialised health facilities to conduct COVID-19 tests and allocates special rooms for quarantine at DEWA’s facilities in case any of the employees show symptoms. In addition, contractors are checking their workers, engineers, and staff at their sites to prevent any infection to DEWA’s supervisors and engineers. 

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA said that DEWA places the health and safety of its customers and staff at the top of its priorities. It is committed to protecting their mental and physical health. He noted that DEWA provides a help line for its staff, in cooperation with specialists and psychologists, to support the psychological wellbeing of employees returning to work and enhance their sense of security.

“DEWA has implemented the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and the decision by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, regarding the return of Dubai Government employees to their workplaces. The gradual return of our employees to their workplaces started on 31 May 2020. On 14 June 2020, all employees returned to work in line with the guidelines issued by Dubai Government Human Resources Department. This excludes elderly staff and staff with chronic diseases, pregnant ladies and female employees with school-age children until the end of the school year. Nonetheless,

we continue to use smart and innovative solutions as well as technological tools in the work system. We also urge customers to use DEWA’s smart channels to complete all their transactions anytime, anywhere to save them time and effort,” said Al Tayer.

“DEWA’s top management intended to ensure a convenient environment for returning employees according to the highest standards of health and safety. We have seen full commitment of employees to all precautionary measures. They expressed their pride to resume office work at and contribute to business continuity as well as providing all DEWA’s services according to the highest standards of availability, reliability, and efficiency, while applying all precautionary measures,” said Hussein Lootah, Executive Vice President of Transmission Power, and Chairman of the Contingencies & Crisis Committee at DEWA.

Lootah noted that DEWA launched several awareness campaigns on COVID-19 using various channels and in different languages to spread awareness to all staff and customers. 

Saleh Al Marzouqi, Chief Customer Happiness Officer at the Innovation & the Future division of DEWA said that DEWA provides several smart channels for customers to complete their transactions easily and conveniently. He noted that the customers realised how easy it is to use DEWA’s smart channels over the past period, which has reduced the number of customers visiting DEWA’s centres. Through the smart channels, customers can access all DEWA services such as bill payment; activating, transferring or de-activating electricity and water; and Electric Vehicle Green Charger services. At DEWA’s centres, Customer Happiness staff guide customers to using the smart devices, which are disinfected after every use. Customers can also speak directly with customer care staff using video live chat through devices available at the centres.