The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has joined forces with the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) and the Guyana Labour Union (GLU) to combat the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the sugar industry.
According to a joint press release from GuySuCo and the combined unions, they have found it necessary at this time to collaborate in the interest of the thousands of sugar workers and their dependents and the wider nation to mitigate and to stem the transmission of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the sugar industry. The group feels that its coming together at this time is hinged on their collective belief that “it is imperative that the Guyanese nation must together confront the serious consequences that have been brought to bear by COVID-19.”
The unions, as representatives of the workers considers it appropriate at this time to work “in tandem” with GuySuCo in order to “protect first and foremost, the health, wellbeing and safety of the workforce; and secondly, secure the viability, and as practicable as possible, assure normalcy of the operations of GuySuCo.” The unions added that just recently, GAWU had written to GuySuCo regarding “pragmatic initiatives which can be embraced in efforts to effectively apprehend any exacerbation of the situation.”
The release disclosed that the management of GuySuCo, in the interest of its employees has already implemented several preventative steps across the industry. These include sanitising the vehicles used to transport workers as well as workstations and machinery between shifts, at all locations. In addition, anti-bacterial soaps and hand sanitisers were made available throughout locations and hand washing and sanitising of hands by all staff members is emphasised and encouraged.
GuySuCo is also intensifying its employee education and awareness programme led by the Medical Services and Safety and Health Departments. Health education and awareness sessions as well as daily talks on COVID-19, are being held with the various categories of employees. Relevant information, public health advisories and prevention methods on COVID-19, are also made available to all employees, electronically and via hard copies or handouts. Apart from that, the unions, through their structures, are also engaged in informing sugar workers of measures they and their families should embrace to restrict transmission of the virus.
Additionally, the management of GuySuCo will be implementing a shift/rotation system on estates and at its Head Office, in order to minimise large gatherings of employees at various locations, at any given time. The GuySuCo Training Centre/Port Mourant (GTC/PM) was closed on March 18, and will remain so until further notice, and subsequently, all students have returned to their homes. Also, visitors are being screened at the entrances of all locations.
Over the coming days and weeks, GuySuCo will be working very closely with the three unions to provide employees with information, to encourage the importance of individual responsibility to protect themselves, family members and the community as well as provide support to members of staff.
The corporation and the unions will remain in consultation with the Ministry of Public Health, and will continue to closely monitor coronavirus-related developments, both locally and internationally.
“We sincerely believe that the practice of appropriate measures could see our people avoid what we have seen unfolding elsewhere and, at this time, we urge all Guyanese to heed the warnings, to practice social distancing and engaged in healthy habits,” the release added.
