The water industry in your country is a mixture of public and private operators. Following problems over prices and lack of accountability, a new regulatory system is being set up.

Divide into two teams - (A) management of a private multinational with a lot of concessions (B) trade unions representing workers in the industry. Each team should discuss what they would like to see in the new system, and at the same time consider what would be in the interests of consumers.

Cover at least the following issues:

• Who should be the regulator? Elected representatives, or officials appointed by the state?
• Should the regulator cover the industry nationwide, or should there be a separate regulator (eg a local authority) for each company?
• Should company documents be confidential, for the regulator only? Or open to the public?
• What financial factors should the system regulate? Prices; profits; costs; investments? (and should there be maximum or minimum targets for these factors?)
• Should standards be set for: service delivery eg water pressure, cutoffs; social obligations eg universal cheap supply; labour conditions.
• Should concessions be long eg 25 years? Or short eg 5 years?

• What kind of enforcement mechanism should there be? Complaints to the regulator, who decides what to do; contractual penalties; revision of targets; possible termination of concession.
• How should trade unions be involved?