NICIL securing alternative employment for redundant Wales Estate staff

In the wake of reports that over 60 workers have been dismissed from the Wales Estate by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), it has been clarified by the State agency that these workers are, in fact, being reorganised and in some cases, alternative employment is being sought.

The Guyana Agriculture and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) had sent out a statement in which it expressed concern over the dismissal of what it said were over 60 workers, mostly security guards and labourers. According to the Union, these workers were in the process of being unionised.
But in a statement on Monday, NICIL 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 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,” NICIL said.
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.
“NICIL sought to reorganise its operations across its varied locations, given that from 2017 most of the equipment and machinery of the Wales Estate were transferred to other Estates to enhance their operational efficiency and optimise their operations. Other remaining assets were utilised in NICIL’s Rice Cultivation Project, which was discontinued in October 2020 given that it was not feasible to continue thereafter.”
“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.