USP justifies outsourcing of its Dining Hall services

The University of the South Pacific has justified outsourcing its Dining Hall services revealing that they ran a deficit of $634 thousand last year which saw the laying-off of some staff early this year.

Acting Registrar, Lily Vesikula reveals that they have been running at a loss for the past five years and they had to take action quickly.

Vesikula adds that another reason for the outsourcing was that students staying on campus had approached the Council saying that would like to have a wide option of food choices.

A total of 28 staff have been handed their termination letters and according to USP, these workers have been given the option of either taking a redundancy package or be put into other areas.

The University has already called for expressions of interest from those that would like to take over operations at the Dining Hall.