Just days after RUSAL laid off some 142 workers due to a fuel shortage, the company has now sent home another batch of employees.
A letter from the company dated January 29, 2020, which was seen by this publication, indicated that the it was forced to further reduce operations and to lay off employees owing to adverse operating circumstances including shipment interruption because of the blockage of the Berbice River.
INews understands that following the decision to lay off employees owing to claims of fuel shortages, workers and residents blocked the section of the Berbice River utilised by the Aroaima-based company.
The letter, which listed 146 employees, stated that the lay-off will take effect from today (January 30, 2020) with the employees to be recalled as soon as the situation returns to normalcy.
It further indicated that letters would be sent to employees’ home addresses by way of the post office.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union in a statement to the media stated that the decision to lay off the workers is in contravention of the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act. The Union stated that the Government of Guyana is yet to facilitate the process to bring about a resolution.
The Labour Department, on the other hand, said on Wednesday that on January 27, it met with the management of RUSAL and the recognised majority union separately.
It stated that the Labour Department took the position that the workers were improperly laid off by the company and should, therefore, be recalled immediately.
