“No pay, no work” – Jamaican cane harvesters protest wage delays by private recruitment agency

Some three dozen Jamaican cane harvesters employed at the Rose Hall East Canje Estate downed tools on Tuesday, refusing to return to the fields as they protested what they describe as delayed wages linked to the agency through which they were recruited.

The 36 workers, who were brought to Guyana through a Jamaican recruiting agency, said they have been on the job for more than two weeks but are yet to receive any payment, despite being told prior to arrival that they would be paid weekly.
“We’ve been here over two weeks now working without pay – no money,” said Mario Brown, one of the harvesters. “So, we are not going to resume work until we get paid. No pay, no work.”
Another worker, Patrick Willis, said repeated assurances about payment have not materialised.
“I’m working fully two weeks now. This week will be three weeks, and all I’ve been hearing is we’ll get some money the other week,” Willis explained.
Wilfred Brown echoed similar concerns, pointing out that the delay has placed added pressure on workers with financial obligations back home.
“We have people back home looking at us for money, my wife and child. And we here, we don’t have anything,” he said

Changing terms, no contracts
Several of the workers claim that the terms under which they were recruited changed after they arrived in Guyana.
Daniel Edwards said they were initially told they would be paid in U.S. dollars, but that arrangement was later altered.
“She told us we are going to get nine U.S. dollars… and now it’s like she don’t agree to that,” Edwards said. “We can’t come here for that kind of money.”
Others also raised concerns about the absence of formal contracts, claiming they were asked to submit signatures without being provided with documentation outlining the terms of their employment.
“They give us a plain sheet and say sign your name, and we don’t know what we sign for,” said Andre Butler.
Domaine Broddick another worker, said the situation has left many feeling misled.
“Them say it’s a work programme. You don’t get any contract to sign. Come here, come work… and now they say they going to send all of us home without no money,” he said.
The workers also complained about conditions, particularly access to adequate food while performing physically demanding labour.
Mario Brown said the men are struggling to sustain themselves.
“We got to send money back home for our family, and we can’t work and not getting proper meal to go into the field when the sun is on us,” he said.
Edwards added that without wages, even basic necessities are out of reach.
“No money to buy nothing to eat… we need our money to make ourselves comfortable,” he said.
Several workers said they typically begin work as early as 03:00h and labour under intense conditions for hours, making proper nutrition and timely payment critical.

Company response
In an invited comment, Managing Director of SAAB Guyana Enterprise, Benny Seepersad, explained that the workers were recruited through a Jamaican agency, and that payment arrangements are linked to when the company receives funds for their labour.
He said that while a cheque was available last Friday, it was only uplifted on Monday, and the workers are expected to be paid by Wednesday.
Seepersad also noted that four of the workers were found to be incapable of performing cane harvesting duties, and arrangements were made for them to return to Jamaica, with the company absorbing those costs.
The workers began duties on March 9, and the harvesting programme is expected to last approximately eight weeks.
Despite those assurances, several workers remain unconvinced, pointing to repeated promises that have yet to be fulfilled.
Andre Butler said the men are standing firm.
“I come here to work and get my money to go home to my family… that’s what I am here for,” he said.
Up to Tuesday, the workers maintained that they would not return to the fields until they are paid.