Bosai has up to Monday to decide fate of workers

She made the comment to the Government Information Agency (GINA), following the recent protest action by Bosai workers, against the planned issuance of retrenchment letters to 47 of them.

Following the protest action by the workers on August 06, the Ministry held a meeting with Bosai, where the company suggested that the only way its operations will be profitable is to reduce the working hours.

The Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union proposed that the working hours be reduced by four, which will ultimately see a reduction in the workers’ salary by 40%.

Minister Broomes told GINA that the bauxite company has up to Monday, August 10 to make a firm decision on the issue. Prior to the protest actions by the workers, Minister Broomes explained that the Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle was in contact with Bosai, which had initially sent a letter to the Ministry, indicating that there will be some retrenchment of a specific category of workers.

Thereafter, Bosai, the Regional Chairman of Region Ten, Rennis Morian and the Union met, and it was agreed that the bauxite company will review the intended retrenchment.

“The workers have a right to say if they will take it or not, and what actions they will take against the company, as against the company’s position… We cannot tell the company that they have to keep them. However, we will ensure the laws be followed. It is important for them to come up with a reasonable bargain for the employees,” the Minister said.

According to Minister Brooms, the Ministry will also have to carry out an investigation to check on whether or not the workers were paid for the four-hour overtime they worked, in keeping with the Labour Laws.

In the interim, Bosai signed off on the terms of resumption.