Negotiations between BOSAI Minerals Group of Companies and NAACIE have resulted in an agreement for a seven percent across-the-board-increase for bauxite workers, retroactive from April 1, 2010 to March 2009.

According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), Chief Labour Officer Yoganand Persaud announced the increase at a meeting hosted at the Pegasus Hotel on Monday.

“The agreement includes an education grant of $5,000 to be paid annually, a grant for retired workers (workers who worked for five years will be entitled to $20,000, ten years, $40,000 and a pro-rated sum of $4,000 where applicable),” GINA said.

Meanwhile, Labour minister Manzoor Nadir said he is confident that the processes of the labour administration are working very well. “We have had the overwhelming majority of the exchanges between employers, employees and their unions, in the form of agreeable discussions,” he said.

This is the seventh agreement signed for the year. Further, the Ministry has already unionised four companies for the year. These are: the Berbice River Bridge Company Incorporated, the National Parks Commission, ADL Supermarket and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority.