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Govt. misleads on tax-free overtime payments for Rusal workers – union
Meeting in 2016: Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence and Minister within the Ministry, Keith Scott engaging officials from the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI).
The Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) is insisting that the non-payment of 2017 tax refund to workers employed at the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) has absolutely nothing to do with their submitting of tax returns.
The union noted that in a statement issued by the Department of Public Information (DPI), it is stated that bauxite workers are to submit a claim to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) for refund and this was communicated to the GB&GWU and all the parties concerned.
The union pointed out that the statement was attributed to Minister Keith Scott, who has responsibility for labour.
“This is wrong. The procedure for the refund was expressly outlined by the GRA via letter dated 30th November 2017, signed by Commissioner-General Godfrey Statia and addressed to BCGI Chief Accountant, Rafeek Khan,” the union said in a statement refuting the government release. “The instant letter directed BCGI that the money deducted between January -November 2017 be refunded to the workers and the company will reclaim same when submitting future taxes on workers’ income to the GRA…”
In effect, the statement is saying BCGI shall pay workers all monies deducted for taxes on overtime and premium hours worked for year 2017 and for the year 2016 the workers, individually, shall submit their returns to GRA which will be cross-referenced with the information submitted by BCGI in order for refund to be effected.
“The issue (now) under contention is the non-refund to workers for taxes deducted on overtime and premium hours worked in 2017. GB&GWU is concerned that BCGI has to date not complied with the GRA’s directive which demonstrates continued blatant disregard for this nation’s sovereignty, its institutions and citizens/workers.”
The union said it is further concerned about Minister Scott’s “seeming comfort”, as attributed in the DPI’s statement, to continuously mislead on this serious matter that borders on laws and effective functioning of government that he, by oath, has obligation to safeguard, protect and defend.
“GB&GWU calls on the Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally, who has responsibility for Labour, to intervene and ensure this matter is treated with deserving seriousness and alacrity in order that the workers can receive what’s duly theirs. Further, DPI is being advised that there is no such company as RUSAL operating in Guyana. The name of the legally registered company is Bauxite Company Guyana Incorporated (BCGI), which the Government of Guyana is part owner of.”
Workers of the Russian-owned bauxite company, based in Region 10, have been clashing for several years now with the management over one labour issue or the next.
In the late 2000s, BCGI sacked more than 50 employees, including union leaders for participating in strike actions for better conditions.
The bauxite company, a major employer in Region Ten, has also been accused of engaging the union and even not turning up for meeting with labour officials on the issues.
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