Gov’t to sue Timber Company over unpaid wages

Jan 22, 2012 News

…$20M owed to 150 workers

The Ministry of Labour may be taking Tigerwood Guyana Incorporated to court in connection with $20M in

Irshaad Mustapha

unpaid salaries to workers. The money has been unpaid since last year.
Chief Labour Officer, Yoganand Persaud, said that a representative of Tigerwood had breached the promise made to staffers during a meeting at the Ministry’s premises last year to pay their staff.
Persaud said that eight workers went into the Ministry last year to lodge a complaint of not being paid for months.
The Chief labour Officer noted that several letters were sent to the company and a meeting was also held. He added that the Human Resource Manager of Tigerwood attended the meeting and had promised to pay

Brian Sukhu

the workers at least half of their salary before 2011 ended but failed to do so.
The workers therefore revisited the Ministry early this year and it was decided that the matter would be taken to court.
Early this month, 150 workers claimed that they had not received their monthly salary for several months with the result that the sum owed has amounted to $20M.
One of the workers, Brian Sukhu, said that a group of workers has been continuously visiting the business for their payments but were “chased” away on many occasions.
Brian said that the workers have been visiting the Ministry of Labour but were being “pushed” around. Persaud, however, denied such comment and told Kaieteur News that the workers officially lodged their complaint in December and that since then all efforts are being made to ensure the staff receive their money.
Meanwhile, an official at the company told Kaieteur News that efforts are being made to pay the staff but at present, the company is experiencing a financial crisis.