on the heels of an announcement of ,000 bonus for Public Sector employees, Government is now being asked to provide similar bonuses for sugar workers who, for the first time in 65 years, would not receive any Annual Production Incentive (API) and who have not received a pay increase in two years.
The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) dispatched a letter to the President of Guyana David Granger, requesting that his Administration consider granting a bonus for the sugar workers who have been enduring much hardships over the past few months.
The trade union body lauded the Government for approving the tax-free bonus of $25,000 for different categories of State employees but noted that it expected at least $50,000 as was given last year.
Nonetheless, GAWU said the sugar workers would be grateful for a decent bonus from the Government around Christmas time.
“A similar bonus to these workers would surely help, in some way, to offset expenses in the upkeep of their family, especially in this season of goodwill. We shall appreciate your favourable consideration of our request,” the Union expressed in the correspondence.
Initially, Government planned on not granting public servants bonuses as no announcement was made during the recent budget presentation by Finance Minister Winston Jordan.
After immense public outcry however, Government caved and eventually announced that Public Sector employees earning under $500,000 per month will be granted $25,000 tax-free bonus.
The Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) had criticised this paltry sum being offered, noting that Government has enough fiscal space to give the workers of this country much more.
During a press conference on Thursday, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo pointed out that the major underspending for the year 2016 would provide Government with enough monies to give public servants a greater bonus for the year.
Additionally, he asserted that the monies wasted behind scandals like the D’Urban Park Development Project and the house being rented from an APNU/AFC affiliate for millions of dollars to store condoms could be otherwise utilised to grant public servants a decent bonus.
