The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has once again raised concerns about the way Guyanese employed in the oil and gas sector are being treated.

In a statement, GAWU said it is disturbed to learn again of the alleged treatment experienced by Guyanese nationals undertaking various tasks on the Floating Production and Storage Offloading vessels operating offshore Guyana by ExxonMobil and its partners.

The Union which represents a number of oil and gas workers has repeatedly raised concerns about the alleged mistreatment of Guyanese workers offshore.

In many instances, the Union accused the companies of denying overtime payments or days off to Guyanese workers while their foreign counterparts enjoy those rights.

The union also raised the issue of workers being allegedly threatened with dismissals and being intimidated while foreign workers make up to five times the money that the local workers are paid, and for some positions, persons are taking home the country’s minimum wage.

“The GAWU had previously brought to attention that it learned from local workers being denied internet access to communicate to their families through such facilities remained available to foreigners. Additionally, we pointed out that some workers had reported to us that they could only eat after their foreign colleagues had completed their meals and received whatever was available,” GAWU said in a statement today.

The Union said Guyanese workers also relayed to them that foreigners were being allowed to eat their meals prior to emergency drills whereas locals were not afforded similar opportunities. In such instances, the workers reported that their meals could be delayed several hours.

“At this time, the GAWU wishes to encourage the affected employees to make contact with us. We believe that so far our collective efforts have yielded improvements for workers of the sector and we hold that collaboration could bring about betterment. Indeed, we are against the reported mistreatment of our locals and stand in their defense,” the Union said.

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