A Trinidad rice company at Hampton Court, Essequibo Coast may be in breach of the Factory Act legislation and it affects the workers pay whenever they work overtime and this is considered to be against the law. In the new environment labour has already made some important advances. It is apposite to note that one of the long standing calls of the Ministry of Labour has been moving to resolve disputes as they relate to workers rights and equal pay for work done.
Moreover, the workers are being coerced to join a union. In fact, conditions are now developing whereby the company is pressuring the workers to defend their personal choice to a union and can bargain directly with their employers on vital issues, in particular on wages and overtime. This is vital if workers are to improve their working and living conditions of their family.
In this process, not only the workers will benefit but the industry and the company. Lest I be misunderstood, let me say clearly that I am not against private enterprise but in principle the company should adhere to the Laws of Guyana.
I welcome private, local and foreign investment and private initiative which bring much benefit to workers in creating jobs, improving skills and advancing both workers and the country’s welfare. But here we are speaking of exploitation of the workers we cannot and must not take this lightly and the Ministry of Labour must intervene now.