Member of Parliament, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo told hundreds of Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corenyne) workers that Government has no respect for workers.
The statement was made as he addressed workers at a Labour Day rally organised by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) held at the Port Mourant Community Centre.
Mahadeo said he based his conclusion on Government’s four-year track record, which has been disappointing, adding that one of the first things that Government did after taking office was to abolish the Labour Ministry and to reduce it to a department.
“A lot of us thought at that time that it was no big deal, but that was a signal as to how workers will be treated in the ensuing years,” Mahadeo explained.
He said the next move that was a slap in the face for workers was when Government Ministers gave themselves hundreds of thousands of dollars in salary increases while public servants and other workers were forced to take to the streets before they received meager increases.
“They (workers) were sent home just because they were perceived to be supportive of another political party and in most cases, they were replaced by persons who had no qualifications for the jobs they were employed to do.”
That was followed by massive dismissal of workers across. This included the closure of several sugar estates, leaving thousands jobless.
The parliamentarian noted that in Guyana’s history, never had there been an instance where over 7000 workers were fired. He added that sending home those workers in both Demerara and Berbice resulted in many in the Private Sector becoming jobless while some businesses have been forced to downsize and also send home workers while others have reduced the amount of days workers earn.
Meanwhile, GAWU urged workers to take stock of what is still to be realised.
Assistant General Secretary of GAWU, Aslim Singh said workers no longer are seen as important as they should be.
Noting that the former Ministry of Labour which has now been reduced to a department under the current Administration, Singh said it is unacceptable and a matter which the trade unions movement has on more than one occasion expressed vexations but sadly it has fallen on the deft ears of those in charge.
“Comrades, on this May Day it is simply inexcusable that in the birthplace of trade unionism in the British colonial empire, there is no longer a Ministry of Labour; the Ministry which existed up to May 2015.
He told the workers if they stand together they will score many gains and receive the respect they deserve.
“As we observe Labour Day 2019, we cannot ignore the heavy burdens of the high cost of living. In recent years, the tentacles of taxation have reached several essential goods and services apart from other impositions that have been levelled and served to mount cost of living.”
Over the last year, he added, those burdens became weightier “as we have had to contend with increased water rates and higher public transportation costs. Clearly, our workers are beleaguered and in need of help and reprieve as they struggle to keep their heads above the proverbial waterline. Comrades almost daily, we hear and need about people being victims of banditry, robbery and other forms of crime. It seems to us that crime has been more pervasive and those engaged in such acts have become more brazen.”
The situation, the Assistant General Secretary noted, is not a healthy one an ddoes not augur well for the people of this country who are generally terrified at this time.
