Wales Estate workers given 3-day ultimatum

…to chose between Uitvlugt/severance or be ousted

Sugar workers on Monday were given a three-day ultimatum to sign an agreement indicating whether they will opt to receive a severance package from government or be transferred to Uitvlugt Sugar Estate. If the workers do not sign the agreement in the stipulated timeframe, they will be ousted from the Wales Sugar Estate.

The workers of Wales Estate were informed of this during an intense meeting with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). Guyana Times International met with the aggrieved workers shortly after the meeting who voiced their concerns on the matter. The workers described the move as most unfair, noting that the timeframe is too short a period to make such a big and important decision.

One worker Talat Khan stated that the options proposed by GuySuCo are against labour regulations. “This decision that they have taken to stop you immediately from work [is] against the labour agreement… you have to give the union one month notice before you can then take [workers] off,” Khan explained.

Khan posited that the workers are likely to stand in unity and refuse to sign the agreement since the sole fight is to convince government to reverse the decision to shut down Wales Estate.

“At this point we’re not contemplating [to] accept severance pay because solely our fight is begging the Government and the President to have this decision revoked because somebody out of GuySuCo is misleading the President and his Cabinet [in] making this wrong decision,” he stated.

Another worker, Prem Persaud told this newspaper he is unsure of what to do. He explained that transportation to and from Wales to Uitvlugt might be a big issue.

Wilbert Damon father of five, said he is contemplating the pay-out option since it is in keeping with the best interest of his family.

“I will not go to Uitvlugt because for safety reasons, I got to protect my family because if this Estate close, a lot of things can happen in this area – it’s gonna happen so you got to be home at night with your family,” Damon explained.

Guyana Times International was also informed that during the meeting, workers explained that employees with long service should be given a signed letter from GuySuCo stating their period of employment so they can receive benefits from the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

An employee who gave his name as Simon only, stated that he has 33 years of service and wants the authorities to give the assurance that his benefits would be paid.

“What we are asking the Government and the decision-makers of GuySuCo to do is to ensure that before people cross from this Estate to Uitvlugt or on their early pension or severance, that their contribution to NIS be properly taken care of,” he expressed.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) was not invited to the meeting and its President Komal Chand expressed utmost disappointment that the union did not get an opportunity to raise the myriad of concerns with the Sugar Corporation.