GAWU, GGB ink historic Collective Labour Agreement
– paternity leave for fathers, overtime allowance highlights of agreement
The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) on Tuesday signed their first Collective Labour Agreement (CLA).
The 16-page agreement addresses 33 clauses on a range of matters which will see 36 workers benefitting.
Among the issues considered by the CLA are the payment of overtime, annual leave, subsistence allowance, meals allowance, hazard allowance, the mechanism for promotion, sickness leave, occupational safety and health (OSH), among a host of other conditions.
Chief Labour Officer Dhaneshwar Deonarine and General Manager of Guyana Gold Board Eondrene Thompson sealing the deal
A new feature in the CLA regards the provision of paternity leave where fathers would receive one month’s leave with pay on the birth of their child. It is the first time the GAWU has been able to negotiate such a condition.
During a simple signing ceremony at the Labour Ministry, GAWU’s General Secretary Aslim Singh expressed satisfaction that the agreement was reached at the bilateral level.
GAWU General Secretary Aslim Singh and Guyana Gold Board General Manager Eondrene Thompson displaying the agreement in the presence of the Chief Labour Officer and other officials
He noted that through frank and full discourses, issues were fully ventilated and each side had the opportunity to make their points of view known. This, he posited, augured well for the relationship between the parties as the General Secretary indicated the Union looked forward to fruitful relations with the GGB.
However, General Manager of Guyana Gold Board, Eondrene Thompson expressed the Board’s delight in reaching the point of signing the agreement.
She said the Board recognised the importance of ensuring employees were comfortable and that the discussions took place in a manner which lends to mutually satisfactory outcomes.
Chief Labour Officer, Dhaneshwar Deonarine congratulated the parties while noting that the Ministry was pleased that the parties were able to settle the agreement bilaterally and expressed best wishes to both parties.
The GAWU in the latter of 2021 secured bargaining rights on behalf of the employees of the Board. Ever since, GAWU has been working with the workers in developing and negotiating the CLA.
Apart from that, the Union has been able to address a few other issues in the interest of the workers. The GAWU is pleased that it has been able to continue to advance the interest of workers.
