Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence is expected to submit a report to Cabinet about the circumstances surrounding the Russian Bauxite Company of Guyana, (RUSAL) operations.
RUSAL has been operating in Guyana since 2014
This is according to government spokesperson, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman who chaired a post-cabinet press briefing recently.
Prompted for government’s position regarding RUSAL, in light of the company’s failure to attend a meeting with the Labour Department to address several pertinent issues, Trotman said Cabinet will be reviewing the matter at its next sitting.
He explained that Minister Lawrence will make a presentation on the controversies and he would therefore not want to pre-empt the agreements of Cabinet.
Nonetheless, he posited that dialogue is the only way forward when dealing with conflicts and indicated that Government will push for talks with RUSAL.
Lawrence and the Junior Social Protection Minister, Keith Scott, recently held a meeting to address various issues, including workers’ matters, with the company, some of which have been in the public domain since 2009, however the company was a no-show.
The Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) and RUSAL have had issues following the dismissal and suspension of 57 workers several years back.
Minister with responsibility for Labour, Scott, told the media that RUSAL’s failure to attend the meeting shows a lack of respect for Guyana’s laws and Government. This is the first attempt to have both parties present at a meeting.
Minister Scott said that the Labour Department has encouraged RUSAL to come to the table. He further expressed that the Ministry’s main aim is to ensure Guyana is given the respect due as a sovereign state; and there should be no compromise whatsoever.
Reports indicate that some of the workers’ concerns raised over the years include being compelled to complete tasks without the necessary equipment to do the job; staff working far in excess of five years and receiving no raise in pay; staff reporting sick receiving pay eight hours for a three-day period, but upon resumption money is deducted from their salary; poor ventilation in office areas; and no occupational safety and health representatives or committee, among several other issues.
RUSAL, which has been operating in Guyana since 2014, owns licences to develop the Linden, Kwakwani and Ituni deposit groups.
