The Ministry of Agriculture yesterday confirmed that several options including severance have been offered to Wales sugar estate workers in light of the closing of operations there by the end of the year.
It said that from reports in the media, workers appear to have misunderstood some of the key points highlighted during two rounds of meetings. Yesterday’s statement issued via the Government Information Agency was the first official reference to meetings which began on February 1st. The government and the Guyana Sugar Corporation have come in for strong criticism from the workers and their unions over the decision to shut the West Bank Demerara estate and the absence of an alternative plan.
The ministry said that meetings were held on the 1st and 2nd of February with the various categories of permanent agriculture employees from the estate and they were given one week to notify management of their decisions following discussions with their families on the options.
The sugar workers were told that similar work for some categories is available at the Uitvlugt Estate on the West Coast of Demerara and GuySuCo is seeking persons to fill those vacancies.
However, workers who choose not to fill the existing vacancies in their respective categories at the Uitvlugt Estate are being offered cane harvesting positions at the Wales Estate. Some categories of workers would have to remain at the Wales Estate until the end of the 1st or 2nd crops of 2016.
In addition, the ministry said that workers who have attained 55 years of age and have 10 years or more of continuous service have the option to take early retirement. Workers who do not want to accept any of the options have the alternative of accepting severance payment.
The Ministry said that follow up meetings were also conducted on February 8 and 9 with the same categories of permanent agriculture staff for them to convey their decisions to the officials.
“But at no time were workers offered a three-day grace period for a decision to be made, as was reported in Inews. The workers were however, informed that staff who opted for the severance payments cannot seek further employment with the Corporation”, the ministry said.
A record was made of workers who were present at the sessions to ensure that they received their salary for the day, the ministry added. It said that based on reports in the media, workers misunderstood the reason for recording their names and thought that it was for severance payment and that they did not have to return to work. The ministry said that it was made clear to all workers attending the meeting on February 9, that they have to continue being present for work until they are advised otherwise.
The ministry said that the Wales Estate has also ceased employing temporary staff in an effort to focus and address the needs and concerns of all permanent employees.
These consultation sessions are being held, the ministry said, with the aim of recording the different categories of workers and the options they choose so that GuySuCo, GAWU (the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union) and the Department of Labour can be informed of their decisions. GAWU has criticised its exclusion from the meetings.
