http://www.kaieteurnewsgy.com/news.htm
GFC, Labour Ministry investigating Bai Shan Lin operations
… willing and prepared to take action if necessary – Persaud
Kaieteur News, 21 August 2007
The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) is currently conducting
investigations into the allegations of safety and labour discrepancies
at the Bai Shan Lin sawmill operations at Coomaka in Region Ten.
According to Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, a meeting was
held on Saturday with the principal of the sawmilling operations from
China where he related his concerns at the allegations at the Coomaka
operations.
Persaud, in an interview with Kaieteur News, stated that he has also
invited the Ministry of Labour to intervene and to launch an
investigation to see if in fact there are labour violations occurring
at the sawmill.
“Based on their recommendations, we are willing and prepared to take
action if necessary,” said Persaud.
Efforts by Kaieteur News to contact Karen Canterbury, the
administrative manager of Bai Shan Lin, have proved futile.
Following a visit to the Coomaka operations on Tuesday last, the media
operatives present on a tour of the facility were bombarded by
complaints by local workers there.
Workers at the Chinese-owned sawmill unanimously complained about what
they called discrimination towards Guyanese workers and even called the
operations “A slave camp.”
In a media briefing, Site Manager, Earl Julian said that the company
has 45 Guyanese employed and 35 Chinese employees, most of whom would
carry out specialized tasks given that recruitment of specialised
Guyanese has not commenced as yet.
Julian stated that 14 Guyanese are currently at home because one of the
production lines is out of operations.
As it relates to the recent non compliance by the company that caused
the government to suspend operations, Julian was unable to comment on
the progress to date.
And commenting on safety at the worksite, he stated that standards
commonly implemented for workers safety are not enforced.
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.
Workers were observed working in slippers.
Female workers were also employed for the laborious task of stacking
wood.
Kaieteur News understands that recently a female lost her finger and
was promptly sent home with one weeks' pay.
One employee related that in the beginning respirators were issued but
in recent times no respirators are available.
He said that the average salary was between $1,200 and $1,500 per day
but the workers were not operating on any signed agreement.
Each worker that spoke to the media operative on Tuesday last was
extremely cautious of the Chinese personnel seeing them talking to the
media, fearful of losing their jobs.
Another employee complained adamantly of the treatment meted out to the
workers, saying that several injuries are sustained on the work site
and they are still forced to work nonetheless.
“Females are paid $1,000 per day and are forced to work just as hard as
the men,” said one female employee.
“Dem does wuk we like dog.”
In recounting one of the differences in the treatment between the
Chinese and the Guyanese, an employee related that the local workers
are forced to have lunch wherever they can amidst the dusty stockpiles
of wood while the foreign workers have their allotted area for
recreation, a fact that was confirmed by the site manager.
GFC, Labour Ministry investigating Bai Shan Lin operations
… willing and prepared to take action if necessary – Persaud
Kaieteur News, 21 August 2007
The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) is currently conducting
investigations into the allegations of safety and labour discrepancies
at the Bai Shan Lin sawmill operations at Coomaka in Region Ten.
According to Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, a meeting was
held on Saturday with the principal of the sawmilling operations from
China where he related his concerns at the allegations at the Coomaka
operations.
Persaud, in an interview with Kaieteur News, stated that he has also
invited the Ministry of Labour to intervene and to launch an
investigation to see if in fact there are labour violations occurring
at the sawmill.
“Based on their recommendations, we are willing and prepared to take
action if necessary,” said Persaud.
Efforts by Kaieteur News to contact Karen Canterbury, the
administrative manager of Bai Shan Lin, have proved futile.
Following a visit to the Coomaka operations on Tuesday last, the media
operatives present on a tour of the facility were bombarded by
complaints by local workers there.
Workers at the Chinese-owned sawmill unanimously complained about what
they called discrimination towards Guyanese workers and even called the
operations “A slave camp.”
In a media briefing, Site Manager, Earl Julian said that the company
has 45 Guyanese employed and 35 Chinese employees, most of whom would
carry out specialized tasks given that recruitment of specialised
Guyanese has not commenced as yet.
Julian stated that 14 Guyanese are currently at home because one of the
production lines is out of operations.
As it relates to the recent non compliance by the company that caused
the government to suspend operations, Julian was unable to comment on
the progress to date.
And commenting on safety at the worksite, he stated that standards
commonly implemented for workers safety are not enforced.
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.
Workers were observed working in slippers.
Female workers were also employed for the laborious task of stacking
wood.
Kaieteur News understands that recently a female lost her finger and
was promptly sent home with one weeks' pay.
One employee related that in the beginning respirators were issued but
in recent times no respirators are available.
He said that the average salary was between $1,200 and $1,500 per day
but the workers were not operating on any signed agreement.
Each worker that spoke to the media operative on Tuesday last was
extremely cautious of the Chinese personnel seeing them talking to the
media, fearful of losing their jobs.
Another employee complained adamantly of the treatment meted out to the
workers, saying that several injuries are sustained on the work site
and they are still forced to work nonetheless.
“Females are paid $1,000 per day and are forced to work just as hard as
the men,” said one female employee.
“Dem does wuk we like dog.”
In recounting one of the differences in the treatment between the
Chinese and the Guyanese, an employee related that the local workers
are forced to have lunch wherever they can amidst the dusty stockpiles
of wood while the foreign workers have their allotted area for
recreation, a fact that was confirmed by the site manager.
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