Bai Shan Lin a slave camp – workers
Kaieteur News, 15 August 2007
Bai Shan Lin Forestry operation at Coomaka in Region Ten was the source
of a barrage of complaints by local workers there, yesterday.
Workers at the Chinese owned sawmill complained about what they called
discrimination towards Guyanese workers and even called the operations,
“a slave camp.”
At a media briefing, Site Manager, Earl Julian, said that the company
employs 45 Guyanese and 35 Chinese, most of whom would carry out
specialised tasks given that recruitment of specialised Guyanese has
not commenced as yet.
He stated the company is currently involved in the processing for
export to China .
As it relates to sale on the local market he stated that the upper
hierarchy of management will have to look into that but in the first
phase it is just for export
Julian stated that 14 Guyanese are currently at home given that one of
the production lines is out of operation.
Julian declined to comment on the recent non-compliance by the company
that caused the government to suspend operations and deferred all
queries to the administrative manager.
Workers' safety on the worksite also came in for questioning. Standards
commonly implemented for workers safety are not enforced.
He stated that an officer of the Guyana Forestry Commission recently
brought up the issue and that the company was in the process of
addressing the situation.
Julian added that the company was in the process of procuring helmets
for on-site operations since there was none on the work site.
Prior to his arrival on the site, three months ago, the helmets were
distributed to workers and have not been returned, he said, adding that
no measures were in place to ensure the security of the safety gear.
As it relates to job security for Guyanese workers, he stated that the
average salary was between $1,200 and $1,500 per day, but the workers
were not operating on any signed agreement.
He could not say what the salary was of the Chinese workers on site;
neither could he say if they were operating with a contract.
During a tour of the site, Kaieteur News observed several workers
operating without the necessary safety gear that would be commonly in
place in such a hazardous environment. Some were observed working in
slippers.
Female workers were also employed for the laborious task of stacking
wood. Recently a woman reportedly lost her finger and was promptly sent
home with one week's pay, the workers said.
One employee related that in the beginning, respirators were issued,
but in recent time none was available.
Each worker that spoke to any media operative was extremely cautious of
the Chinese personnel seeing them do so. They were afraid of losing
their jobs.
Another employee complained vehemently of the treatment meted out to
the workers saying that several injuries are sustained on the work site
and the injured are still forced to work nonetheless.
“Females are paid $1,000 per day and are forced to work just as hard as
the men who earn between $1,200 and $1,500,” said one female employee.
“Dem does wuk we like dog.”
These workers also complained that far too often monies are not paid on
time.
In recounting one of the differences in treatment between the Chinese
and the Guyanese, the local workers said that they are forced to have
lunch wherever they can, even amidst the dusty stockpiles of wood. The
foreign workers have their allotted area for recreation, a fact that
was confirmed by the site manager.
A notice was placed for all to see:
“It has been observed that Guyanese members of staff have cultivated a
habit of leaving the compound without notification and
authorization…With effect Monday 9th July, all Guyanese members of
staff must obtain the relevant permission from management before
leaving the compound…Failure to do so will result in their immediate
dismissal.”
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