Workers are key to sugar industry survival - Jagdeo

Workers are key to sugar industry survival – Jagdeo

Nov 08, 2009 News

By Leonard Gildarie
President Bharrat Jagdeo says that the country’s plan to revive the sugar industry does not involve workers losing their jobs but rather making adjustments to changes being made to ensure the continued viability of Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).
And some of these adjustments may involve the workers carrying out their duties in other locations.
Jagdeo’s statements were made Thursday during a press conference at the Office of the President.
Government has spent billions of dollars to expand capabilities in the industry which include the new Skeldon factory and a US$12M facility at Enmore to produce packaged sugar, a value-added product. This is one of the key factors that will earn millions for the industry, the President said.
The idea is to cut losses and high costs currently facing the industry in order to make it more competitive, he explained.
Speaking about the current wage talks which were declared deadlocked over a week ago and which led to a countrywide strike and then a government-declared compulsory arbitration, the President was of the opinion that some elements are attempting to portray Government as anti-worker.
The reality is much different, the President said. This year, as of October 1, Guyana suffered the biggest cut in sugar prices as a result of the cuts by the European Union.
Whether it is Booker Tate’s fault or anyone else, the reality is that GuySuCo is facing yet another year of low production with banks owed more than $6B, he said. In addition, the sugar company is facing losses of almost $4B by the end of the year, he added.
The good news is that the industry has a plan to turnaround the industry’s fortunes and if aggressively pursued will make GuySuCo very profitable.
Stressing that workers play an integral role of pulling GuySuCo out of the woods, Jagdeo said that despite the precarious financial predicament facing the industry, the Corporation has made a three per cent offer to workers that could cost almost $500M. Government has shown strong commitment to the industry despite the economic turmoil in the world.
In the US alone, 10 million-plus persons have lost their jobs with workers in the auto industry even taking a 55 per cent cut in pay to keep their jobs. In the region, some countries have frozen wages and salaries as the economic situation bites deeply.
Yet, GuySuCo, in the face of its problems and trying to keep industrial peace, has offered a three per cent pay hike. GAWU and GuySuCo are expected to start meeting as early as tomorrow as the Arbitration Tribunal starts its work to decide if and how much wages should be increased to.
GAWU President, Komal Chand, said that following the end of the strike on Friday, estates are reporting things are almost back to normal.

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Workers are key to sugar industry survival – Jagdeo

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