…says concerned about employees’ future

THE Department of Labour of the Ministry of Social Protection has invited the management of Barama and the workers’ representative trade union for talks concerning the future of employees following that company’s decision to pull out of the logging business here. In a statement, the Ministry of Social Protection said it is always concerned with the socio-economic affairs of workers throughout the entire employment spectrum of Guyana. “Whether they are from the public sector or the private sector, the well-being of workers is always foremost in the focus of the Ministry.” According to the ministry, such issues as worker-management relations, working conditions, occupational safety and health and security of tenure are always positioned within the immediate interest of the ministry. “Hence, any action and or contemplated action which is designed to disrupt the comfort and well-being of any employee will impact the ministry’s agenda, and interest.”
According to the ministry, its philosophy is one which is conditioned proactively and the maintenance of prudent industrial relations practices, hence its interest has been aroused by news that the BARAMA Company Limited’s decision to adjust its operations in Guyana. “Out of concern for the employees as well as the future of the company, the ministry has invited the company along with the last known recognised trade union for discussions pertaining to the possible impact the company’s contemplated actions is likely to have on the workers’ future.”
Government on Thursday said that Barama’s decision to close its logging operations presents an opportunity for stocktaking, whereby it can objectively assess the value of the standing forest through its contribution to the ecosystem, while simultaneously examining the value of the past 25 years to the people of Guyana.
Barama had announced on Wednesday that it will not be seeking to renew or extend its Forest Concession Agreement with the Government of Guyana. The company said its Concession Agreement expired on October 15 and since then government has been informed of that status. “The company will also not be seeking the renewal of extension of the Investment Agreement that mainly relates to the Forest Concession which expired on Saturday, 15th October, 2016.” However, the company said it will be continuing all of its other projects here inclusive of veneering, plywood manufacturing and sawmilling. “Barama very much regrets having to make the decision to close our Forest Concession operations after having, over the past 25 years, invested approximately $45B in the development of Guyana’s forestry industry,” the statement added.
Representatives of the company approached government for the first time on September 2, 2015, with a proposal for both the renewal of the Investment and Forest Concession Agreements. Since then, the company has been continuing discussions with government on the agreements. The company said too that earlier this year, by virtue of correspondence with government, it had advised that economic conditions influencing the company’s continued investment in the country’s forest industry were not encouraging. “Barama has , as a consequence, now regrettably concluded that it is no longer viable for the company to continue its forestry operations,” but looks forward to engaging government to explore the continuation of its other operations so as to sustain value-added and job-creation potential here as well as to determine a new Investment Agreement. The company thanked its shareholders for the support given to it over the years. The Ministry of Natural Resources said that it has since mandated the Guyana Forestry Commission to work with BCL to ensure a smooth closure of all concession-related activities within the stipulated period. Additionally, the parties will ensure that all labour and other related issues are fully addressed in keeping with applicable laws and regulations. “The Government thanks BCL for its involvement over the past 25 years, and will be engaging the company in further discussions on its stated interest in the continuation of the added-value activities.”