A TASK force set up by Cabinet to deal with the future of workers attached to subsidiaries of RUSAL in light of U.S.-imposed sanctions on Friday morning held a meeting at Oldendorff Carriers (Guyana Inc) at their Esplanade Road, New Amsterdam, Berbice office.

The task force, which is headed by Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, had scheduled the meeting to engage the management and staff of the company on concerns of the Guyanese workers attached to the company.

However, the workers were not present and management of the company sought for the meeting to be postponed. “It’s very disappointing…I was of the belief that the arrangements were there to meet with the workers. I don’t take that however lightly. I am accountable to the Cabinet and the people of this country. The business of this country is one that we are very serious about and I take that to be very disrespectful from the company level,” said Minister Broomes.

Minister Broomes left, pledging to meet with the workers nevertheless and managed to meet with a few at the New Amsterdam stelling, where they usually board boats to go out to the Basin. Chief among the concerns expressed by the workers was whether they would be severed from the company and be able to receive a severance package, including full benefits. Other concerns include the fact that despite working for approximately 11 years with the company, there were no collective bargaining agreements, and whether contracts that were signed to end in 2019 will be honoured. They are also calling for proper representation by the union.

Earlier in the meeting, Ulf Henriksson, the General Manager for Transshipment Projects had explained to the task force that they will abide by the laws of the country, but would prefer not to speculate, since nothing has yet been fully finalised as it relates to the sanctions. On 6th April, 2018, the U.S. Government Office Of Foreign Assets (OFAC) sanctioned RUSAL and by extension all companies in which they own at least 50% of shares. This includes the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc.(BCGI) and by extension Oldendorff Carriers which through its business agreement with the company can also face sanctions. The sanction had initially specified that all companies close their operations with RUSAL by June 6, 2018, but a secondary licence was issued extending the period to October 23, 2018.

In a correspondence seen by this publication from the company to Minister of Natural Resources, the Hon. Raphael Trotman, RUSAL has filed a petition requesting to be removed from the sanctions list and are hoping this can be done before the October deadline, so that business can continue as usual in Guyana. There are approximately 500 workers combined between RUSAL and Oldendorff which has prompted Cabinet to set up the task force to look into the interest of the workers. Earlier in the meeting, Minister Broomes had explained that the task force will be meeting fortnightly to keep abreast of the situation and that the Ministry of Social Protection will be working closely to ensure that the rights of the workers are respected by the company.

Minister Broomes, Minister within the Ministry of Finance Jaipaul Sharma, Member of Parliament Audwin Rutherford along with union representatives were present at the meeting.