EKAA HRIM labour dispute – Govt secures jobs for 15 Indian quarry workers; 5 return to India

…as Ministry finds no further monies owed, citing foreign-governed contracts

The Labour and Manpower Planning Ministry has secured alternative employment for 15 of the Indian national workers, who recently left Indian-owned quarry company EKAA HRIM.
On Friday, the Ministry said that the company has agreed to cover the repatriation costs to India for five workers who had three months or less remaining on their contracts, while discussions with the Indian High Commission continue regarding the remaining 15 workers.
In its most recent update on the state of negotiations between Indian-owned quarry company EKAA HRIM and the aggrieved workers, the Ministry said on Friday that as of May 25 the workers have been paid all outstanding wages and salaries for up to May 16, while the company has committed to addressing occupational health and safety concerns that have been raised.
“On May 25, 2026, all employees received their outstanding April salaries, as well as their salaries through May 16, 2026. Copies of the bank transfer and breakdown of payments to each employee have been provided by the company to the Ministry,” the Ministry said.
“Several occupational safety and health concerns were raised by workers while operating at the quarry. The Ministry spared no effort in investigating and addressing these concerns with company management and thus recommended the relevant reliefs in relation to concerns. The Ministry remains engaged to ensure that the identified recommendations are fulfilled and the workspace is such that it complies with all occupational safety and health protocols. The Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning remains committed to exercising its lawful authority in the protection of all workers in Guyana, whether local or foreign,” the Ministry said.
As pertaining to claims by the workers of other monies owed according to their contract, the Ministry noted that the contracts for several of the workers were written up so as to be governed by laws outside of Guyana. The Ministry concluded that there were no further monies owed to the workers beyond the outstanding wages and salaries which were handed over.
“The workers informed the Ministry that a sum of US$2500 was outstanding and owed to them. As a result, each worker was asked to provide copies of their contracts and any other supporting documentation in support of their contention,” the Ministry said.
“Eleven workers possessed contracts stating that a sum of US$2500 would be deducted and paid as a bonus at the end of the contractual period. However, further examination revealed that these contracts contained clauses stating that they were governed by the laws of Mauritius in some instances, and the laws of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in others. There was no evidence to support the contention that the monies were being withheld from the workers, nor was any contract presented that could be applied to the laws of Guyana for enforcement.”
For the remaining workers the Ministry said the contracts did not provide for any other monies to be paid.
“In the case of the remaining twenty-six (26) workers, their contracts indicated that, for the first six months, salaries would be paid at a specified rate, with an increased rate applicable from the seventh month onwards to completion of the contract. This indicated that the initial six-month period represented a probationary phase and that, upon confirmation of employment in the seventh month, workers would benefit from an increased remuneration,” the Ministry said.
The Ministry noted that the initial issue whereby the workers complained of their passports being withheld has already been resolved given that the travel documents were returned to the workers, while the company produced a record of the workers signing when they retrieved and returned their documents to the company. EKAA HRIM said they were given the passports for safekeeping.
“The company subsequently provided the Ministry with copies of its ledger, which reflected records of the date(s) on which workers uplifted their passports to conduct transactions such as obtaining driver’s licences, opening bank accounts, and remitting monies to their families in India, as well as the dates on which the passports were returned to the company. The ledger also showed the signatures of workers on each occasion when passports were uplifted and returned. As it currently stands, the issue concerning passports has been resolved, and the workers are now in possession of their passports,” the Ministry noted.
The workers’ situation has been under investigation since earlier this month when the Indian nationals working at the company made several damning allegations against the company, including unsafe health and safety working conditions, workplace injuries, allegations concerning the reported death of a worker on May 12, allegations of workers being prevented from leaving the work site, unjustified salary deductions and that their passports and other property were being withheld by the company’s management.
The company has denied all wrongdoing. The Indian nationals were reportedly employed by Ekaa Hrim Earth Resources for the past three years. Statements have been obtained from all of the workers, and officials at the Indian High Commission in Georgetown were engaged.