Dismissed Wales Estate workers to be paid severance, full benefits

…as NICIL, GAWU reach settlement

Within 24 hours of concerns being raised about the dismissal of a number of staff from the Wales Sugar Estate, the Labour Ministry has sprung into action and has been able to negotiate an agreement with the aggrieved workers and a Union.
The Ministry met with the workers, who were made redundant by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) due to the ongoing transition at the Wales Estate and the Guyana Agriculture and General Workers’ Union (GAWU).

When contacted, Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle explained that the terms of the agreement include having the workers paid their severance for their years of service, based on the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act of 1997.
“We intervened. We were able to agree to three things. The workers will be paid severance according to the law. They are also to be provided with pay in lieu of leave. And then they agreed to pay for the four days [of lost wages] … the parties agreed,” Ogle explained.
GAWU had sent out a statement on Monday, in which it drew attention to the dismissal of what it said were over 60 workers, mostly security guards and labourers, who it said were in the process of being unionised.
But in a statement of its own on Monday, NICIL had explained that they have been in the process of reorganising operations at the estate and creating a flagship project called the Wales Development Authority (WDA). As a consequence, the workers became redundant.

Nevertheless, NICIL had clarified that not only were there only 49 fortnightly paid workers as at year-end, but that they have been in the process of seeking alternative employment for these workers. This includes employment with an independent security company guarding the immovable assets at the Wales Estate during the transition process.
“NICIL maintained 49 fortnightly paid workers, as at December 31, 2020. These workers were deployed in various fields including Administration, Compound Maintenance, Field Workshop, Agriculture with Security workers making up the majority of workers, namely thirty-two (32) workers on record.”
“The security workers were allowed to secure employment through the recently engaged private security company and the other workers would be contracted as necessary on an ad-hoc basis to provide maintenance services on the Estate.”
GAWU had claimed that when the Trade Union Recognition & Certification Board (TURCB) sought to conduct a survey to have the workers unionised, NICIL did not cooperate. But NICIL explained that they were in the process of transitioning.
“At the time of NICIL’s receipt of a letter from Trade Union Recognition & Certification Board (TURCB), plans were already in train to effect the transfer of the Wales Estate to facilitate the creation of the Wales Development Authority. NICIL’s actions to separate from fortnightly paid workers were in full support of its intent to ready the Estate for the ultimate transition.”
Top officials from NICIL, including Chairman Paul Cheong and Chief Executive Officer R K Sharma, met with GAWU on Monday in order to discuss the issues. Moreover, Cheong explained to this publication when contacted that further meetings will be held between NICIL, GAWU and the Ministry of Labour.
Back in 2016, the former APNU/AFC Government closed the Wales Estate, and the following year shut down the Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon Estates, putting over 7000 sugar workers on the breadline.
The downsizing of the sugar industry saw only the Uitvlugt, Blairmont and Albion Estates being in operation. The assets of the closed estates were put under the control of the Special Purpose Unit of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) for divestment.
Under the PPP Government, the corporation is eyeing the reopening of Enmore and Rose Hall Estates by 2022. It is expected that the Rose Hall factory will be the first to become operational, while the Skeldon factory will be returned to operation by 2023. The Wales factory will be divested. (G3)