–workers can access funds in “timely manner”

Russian bauxite firm -RUSAL Guyana – has handed over a sum of $173M to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) , representing overtime payments the company owed to workers since October 2016.

According to the Department of Public Information (DPI) , Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott, explained the refunds for the bauxite workers will require a specific procedure before they can be uplifted.

The Minister said that with the help of the union representing the workers , and by adhering to the required procedure, the bauxite workers are expected to be paid in a timely manner.

“The correct procedure is for the workers to make a claim to GRA for overtime payment. That process was communicated to the union (Guyana Bauxite and General Workers’ Union) and all parties concerned, by the GRA,” Minister Scott explained.

The Guyana Chronicle reported last week that tensions between the union and RUSAL were high and this was as a result of the dawdling of the firm to reimburse staff monies they would have owed them since October 2016.

It follows the discovery back in 2016 that RUSAL workers were being asked to pay taxes on their premium and overtime pay, at which point the GBGWU stepped in.

Since then, the Ministry of Social Protection has had RUSAL sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to the effect that the workers must be paid, and that the GRA has made arrangements to take charge of the tax returns for the workers for the year 2016.

Last week , the Guyana Chronicle reported that  GBGWU General Secretary, Lincoln Lewis; its President, Ephraim Velloza; and Vice-President, Garfield Brutus met to discuss the issues affecting the workers .

Brutus recommended that the company’s operations  be terminated by the authorities. At the same time , Lewis said that the GBGWU  was doing everything it can to support and advise the workers, but ultimately, the matter of ensuring that the workers are paid is the government’s responsibility.

Velloza noted that he has faith that the body will win at the end of the day.