Guyana Goldfields is an exploitative employer

Dec 29, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
Guyana Goldfields is the premiere gold-mining company in Guyana; and from the posts in the media, has been experiencing a great level of success. Hence, it is surprising to hear from employees, about the treatment meted out to them.
Let me start with the Christmas bonus. Those employees work away from home for 28 days, no days’ off in between, yet the company saw it fit not to give them a Christmas bonus! Instead it gave them a small portion of what is supposed to be their quarterly bonus, and promised to give them the rest in January, 2018.
Many of the employees received $20,000 on their salaries. What is $20,000 in this country, at this time of the year? Those people sacrifice their families and friends to work hard and yet they are unable to give their families a decent Christmas. Shame on Guyana Goldfields!
Another issue is that of meals for employees on the night shift. They told the employees that once they are on the night shift they are not allowed to eat lunch. They have breakfast, sleep through lunch, but return for dinner! Why? Because the employees are getting too fat and it’s too expensive to feed them three times a day! Have you ever heard of such foolishness? That’s modern day slavery.
There is no union to represent employees’ rights. And if at any time an employee voices concern over the working conditions, the company finds a reason to terminate him. So people keep quiet for fear of victimisation.
Guyana Goldfields promised to give pay increases based on appraisals. Only a portion of the workers received any, even though the majority of them had excellent appraisals! Why? When the PSC recommended a 26% increase for private sector employees, Guyana Goldfields didn’t even give 10. This is ridiculous!
As for the payment day…; that’s the biggest joke…! The company says that they pay on Wednesdays. Many times there’s no money in the employees’ accounts until Friday afternoon; sometimes until Thursday night. People are trying to give their families a better life through self sacrifice, but Guyana Goldfields does not care. As long as the big guns are satisfied, to hell with the people who are really doing the work.
They pretend and put on a front when visitors from the government and the media are there. But the harsh reality is written in the hearts and on the countenances of disappointed employees.
Concerned Citizen
Roshena Moore

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