The couple accused of breaking labour laws during the employment of an Amerindian woman are expected to meet Chief Labour Officer (CLO) Yoganand Persaud as the investigation of the case moves forward.
The Singhs, a city businessman and his wife, say that they will be happy to give their side of the story of what transpired in their home with the 22-year-old woman, who was removed by officials of the ministries of Labour and Amerindian Affairs last Thursday.
Persaud told Stabroek News that the couple was invited to the meeting since last Friday but failed to show up. He had indicated that should they not attend, he would have been forced to write them. Should they fail to make the visit afterward, legal action would have to be taken, he said.
Mrs Singh confirmed that she received a call from Persaud late yesterday afternoon inviting her to the meeting. She had indicated to CLO then that she was unable to attend the meeting because she had to pick up her children from school. However, Mrs Singh said that she visited the Labour Ministry yesterday to have a “confrontation” with the woman but the “boss had to go out and the girl did not turn up.” She added that they sat in the office of the labour officer who had been dealing with them for almost an hour but Persaud did not return. She later told the officer that she wanted the girl to be present so that “we could do a confrontation and also for people from the Amerindian ministry to be there so that we could tell them what these people doing but he say he was not sure he could do all that and we should leave and he would call.”
Meanwhile, Mrs Singh said she made a report to the Alberttown Police Station about items missing from their home, including a Nintendo DS game and a pair of gold earrings, which they have accused the woman of stealing.
Meantime, Persaud indicated that the woman said she knew nothing of Mrs Singh’s claim that she owed the couple $21,000. The Singhs had said that the woman worked with them for three months and a week and her wages would have amounted to $65,000 while they would have already spent $86,000 on her. Mrs Singh showed a breakdown of the expenses to reporters last week and said it had been verified by the woman.
A neighbour of the Singhs had reported that the woman was being held against her will, leading to official intervention. The couple has since vehemently denied the claim as well as the allegation that the man made unwanted sexual advances to the young woman. Officials have said that while it does not appear to be a case of human trafficking, breaches of the labour laws are apparent.
Meanwhile, Human Services and Social Security Minister Priya Manickchand yesterday said her ministry will assist in the empowerment of the young woman. She said the woman was interviewed and had indicated that she always wanted to do cosmetology but could never afford to pay for training.
The ministry will now step in and pay for her training and also sustain her during the period. The ministry has since invited the young woman’s aunt to verify that she is willing to house her while she is being trained.
Manickchand explained that her ministry always focuses on empowering women in difficult situations and she pointed out that it would ensure that it is less likely for her to end up in situations where she might be abused and taken advantage of.
