Sugar workers to receive one-off payment as Jagdeo intervenes in wage dispute

Sugar workers will be receiving a one-off payment equivalent to five (5) percent of six months of their earnings in 2019 from the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) as the corporation seeks to settle a three-year wage dispute with the Guyana Agriculture and General Workers Union (GAWU).

The agreement was reached following a meeting between Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, the Union’s General Council and members of its negotiating team, and officials of the GuySuCo on Friday. Through the agreement reached the workers stand to benefit from some $200M in payments which expectedly would be paid soon.

According to a statement from GAWU, Jagdeo expressed concern over the dispute between the Union and the Corporation holding the view it was not in the interest of either side. He reminded of the Government’s tangible commitment to the industry through the release of nine billion dollars ($9B) since August 2020.

The Union, through its President Seepaul Narine, outlined the circumstances which led to protest actions at the various sugar estates over the past week.

The GAWU President reiterated the Union’s commitment to examining any reasonable offer as it was not unmindful of the state of the sugar industry.

The Union welcomed the decision to settle the matter and shared that it believed mature and frank discussions could avoid such conflict in the future.

During the discussions, the parties agreed that the 2021 negotiations would be addressed after the Union submits its claims and the Corporation has been able to evaluate the submission.