Dem Bake shuts down without informing Labour Ministry

…despite announcement of employees’ layoffs

Fernandes Guyana Enterprise, the management of local pastry franchise “Demerara Bakery Incorporated” is yet to inform the Labour Ministry of its closure despite breaking the news to employees.
Guyana Times understands that staff were informed that Dem Bake will be discontinuing its operations effective from November 30, 2024, citing rising operational costs, resources and an ongoing labour shortage as key factors in the decision.
In a telephone interview with this publication, Labour Minister Jospeh Hamilton disclosed that he was made aware of the matter via social media and not through the formal provisions outlined in Guyana’s Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act.
The minister stated “we have no official information from the company…But once you’re doing termination of people, more so set of people, there are some procedures they have to follow. One of them is informing the ministry, submitting the names of all the persons, years of service, and all other issues so that we can ensure that persons are given their right termination benefit.”
As a result, Hamilton indicated that a team of labour officers from his ministry will engage Fernandes Guyana Enterprise during the week to acquire the information needed to ensure that the employees being laid off are properly compensated.
“I would advise CLO (Chief Labour Officer) to do that, the same thing I did with ITEL”. It’s a news report caused me to tell him to make contact. That is when they advise people coming from overseas before they make a final decision”.
“So, I would find from him, you know, what I would seek to have him make contact with the principles of this entity to get an understanding of what it is. And secondly, to advise them about the obligations to the state and to the employees… Our obligation is to the citizens of Guyana who would have been workers. We have had one such experience last year with Troy Resources when they closed, where we supervised them to the end of until they completed paying all the people who were owed,” he added.
Once known as Doolie’s Bakery at Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara, Fernandes Guyana Enterprise rebranded into Dem Bake hoping that the transformation will provide its customers with a service that matches the very best that the industry has to offer.
The rebranding begun in 2018 and during that time, it was noted that the much sought-after upward move is unmistakable. Thus, Dem Bake became a household name gradually expanding and ‘putting down’ roots in coastal communities in Georgetown, along East Coast, East Bank, Parika and Linden.
Additionally, several trucks were stationed across the country to service customers making its easily accessible for citizens to purchase baked products such as bread, cakes and pastries. (G1)