Dear Editor,
I have a problem with the management at Gafoors (LOC Branch).
On the day of my interview I was told working hours were 7:30am-5:30pm Monday to Friday and on Saturday 7:30am to 1:30pm. When I turned on to the job I was told I have to work Monday to Sunday (9 hours per day)with no overtime being paid, no meals and the worst thing of all no leave.
When the month end comes for payment some persons that are assigned to pay salaries take their own time, sometimes they pay 2-4 days after the due date. They don’t pay your NIS.
Yours faithfully
Mr Lall
Editor’s note
We sent a copy of this letter to Gafoors Industries Limited for their comments and received the following response from Mr A. Sattaur Gaffoor, the Executive Chairman:
“We thank you for affording us an opportunity to respond to the attached letter before rushing to publish.
This worker is not readily identifiable from his letter but we suspect that he is employed in the Maintenance section.
On account of the shortage of skills locally we failed to attract a full time mechanical engineer at the Land of Canaan site. Hence, maintenance of our plant and machinery at this site is done through a contract arrangement. This contractor in turn employs persons.
We have asked contractors who provide service to our company to ensure that their employees are given all the benefits according to the laws of Guyana.
We have also asked contractors to ensure that their employees are paid in a timely manner so as not to tarnish the name of our company.
If a critical piece of machinery needs emergency attention that requires an employee to work on a Sunday then he is given the following day off.
The letter-writer should make himself known to our factory manager, Mr Haniff, so we could address his complaints.”
