After gov’t intervention, Jamaican national paid millions owed by foreign company

A Jamaican national hired by Superior Concrete, the company that became popular after setting up unsanctioned operations in Georgetown last year, has received payments totalling GY$3 million after refusals by the company to honour its obligation.

This followed an investigation by the Ministry of Labour following a report made by a friend of the aggrieved employee.

The man received US$15,000 and returned to Jamaica last week after being stranded in Guyana for several months.

This was revealed by Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton who spoke with reporters at his Brickdam, Georgetown office on Wednesday.

“Last week I had to intervene with [Superior Concrete] and a Jamaican guy they brought here and were seeking to have him leave Guyana, without paying him,” Minister Hamilton disclosed.

For wages and salaries owed, the Jamaican national was paid US$12, 500 and the remainder of US$2,500 amounted to his ticket fare and other issues.

“He was hired because of some specific technical skill he had and he was brought here by the company,” Minister Hamilton further explained.

Based on investigations, the man was working in Guyana for six months and was initially paid, however, in recent months he was not paid in full.

A similar issue occurred here back in January this year where Turkish National Emre Kiremit was owed large sums of money in salaries from a popular Casina and Fun Park on the East Bank of Demerara.

The labour ministry again intervened after it was reported that the employers were attempting to force him back to Turkey without paying him for two years of work.

Hours before Kiremit and his employer were to appear before labour officials, a substantial payment was made to him and a new ticket was purchased for him to return home.

Meanwhile, Hamilton revealed that at the national level some GY$15 million have already been recouped by the ministry for workers owed by employers for the year thus far.

“So, it’s a continuous thing, and I normally engage and then turn it over to the labour officers,” Hamilton said.