See below full statement issued by GuySuCo:
The Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) signed an amended agreement on Thursday October 1, 2020, with the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), that will specifically benefit the Central Workshop employees at Albion Estate.
The 2004 Comprehensive Collective Labour Agreement (CLA) had considered offering work to employees of the Central Workshop at the Albion Estate, on Saturdays, in lieu of when a holiday falls within the week at flat rate, since these workers are constant five days employees and would be off for the holiday. However, with the advent of the “National Minimum wage for regular working hours (for all workers in Guyana) Order”, the work week was fixed at 40 hours from five days, however, the Collective Labour Agreement between the Corporation and GAWU, stated that the employees work week is between Mondays through Fridays; therefore, Saturday’s earnings was treated as a premium day, if they worked all the days required through Mondays to Fridays.
The signing of this new agreement has effectively amended clause 6 of the CLA with reference to the Albion Estate Central Workshop and as a result, 55 employees will benefit from retroactive payment.
Following this positive engagement between GuySuCo and GAWU, a meeting was also held to explore enhancing the partnership between the two parties, in an effort to improve the production and the productivity of the Corporation. Both, management of the Corporation and the Union have agreed that it is in the best interest of all parties to ensure that the estate’s target for the Second Crop is achieved, so that market commitments can be met fully.
Mr. Seepaul Narine, General Secretary of GAWU and the Union’s representatives have committed to intensify their drive to increase production and productivity, so that the economy in the local communities can be boosted. Also, attending the meeting, was the management from Albion Estate, Local Union representatives from Cane Harvesting and Factory on the estate and the Corporation’s Industrial Relations Team.
Generally, the meetings were very positive.
