Three security firms have been taken to court for failing to adhere to the new National Minimum Wage Order and the 40-hour work week, Labour Minister, Dr Nanda Gopaul said on Wednesday.
Speaking at his end of year press conference at his 1 Water Street, Stabroek, Georgetown office, Dr Gopaul said some 2218 inspections were done at various businesses countrywide, which led to the ministry taking legal action against three security firms, who are not in compliance with the new minimum wage order.
The three firms are Home Safe Security Services, Supreme Security Service and Strategic Action Security Service.
The labour minister said cases have been filed so far and more will be filed for all workers who are not being paid accordingly.
He said the security firms have not been paying workers their rightful salaries even prior to this year’s new minimum wage order, which he believes is blatant and totally disrespectful to the working class.
“We are pursuing prosecution, we have 19 cases against them so far and we intend to file all the cases for the workers who have not been paid en bloc,” he said.
According to the labour minister, the trial is continuing and this will be monitored to ensure workers get there due sum.
On the other hand, commercial entities were also taken to court and will be up for trial. The ministry will be seeking the assistance of the Attorney General’s Chambers and private lawyers will be sought to ensure that these companies comply with the law.
Dr Gopaul added that the assistance of the Attorney General’s Chamber and that of private lawyers will be sought to ensure that these companies comply with the law.
Some 35,000 workers at the lower level are said to have benefited from the introduction of the national minimum wage and the 40-hour work week order.
In addition to the inspections carried out, the ministry also received approximately 1100 complaints from persons working in various industries about issues relating to dismissal, termination of employment, outstanding wages, overtime and annual leave. The Labour Ministry has secured Gy$ 14.1 million from employers for payouts to aggrieved employees.
