SOCIAL Protection Minister Volda Lawrence will meet with officials of the Bauxite Company Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) Thursday for a progress report on a number of safety and other violations which the company had agreed to correct.A recent workplace inspection conducted by the Ministry of Social Protection at the BCG Inc at Aroaima, Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice) found several infractions that pose threats to life and limb of its employees which the company has agreed to remedy by August 30, 2016.

A release from the Ministry of Social Protection noted that when Minister Lawrence, junior Minister Keith Scott and a team of officials recently visited the mining company, they found violations of the labour laws and regulations which included the absence of fire extinguishers in some areas and failure to post the Health and Safety Policy and the Occupational Safety and Health Act at the health centre.
The company also had insufficient lighting at the cafeteria, inoperable fans, toilets in unsanitary condition and where they were found, fire extinguishers were not serviced or mounted in the accommodation area.
General concerns raised by workers included inadequate compensation for work outside of employees’ job description; problems with submission of sick leave, retirement benefits, and annual leave; safety in the workplace, lack of workers’ representation; victimisation for speaking out; poor conditions of work and the status of the tax-free overtime which was reported by the Government in December, 2015.
Minister Lawrence committed to addressing the issues of safety, workers trade union and violations of the labour laws. According to the release, she noted that the government is moving to have an Industrial Tribunal Court, and draft legislation would be placed before the National Assembly soon.

Plans are also apace to have an amendment to the Fines Act and Labour Act, which states that the maximum a Magistrates Court can award is $100,000 to an employee.

The minister opined that there should be a workers’ benefits plan at the company and a trust fund. In addition, she enquired about vaccination of children in the community, since schools were on the premises, and suggested that parents of those children should present their vaccination cards to the clinic.

The Labour Department will conduct training at BCGI for employees in various labour and related areas and a follow up inspection will be conducted in September.
The release further noted that the management of the BCGI expressed readiness to correct the breaches and stated that they were looking forward to support from the various government ministries, to enforce their standards in every respect.