Thirty-eight Indian nationals, who are attached to the Ekaa Hrim Earth Resources Management company, met today with the Chief Labour Officer and other officials of the Labour Ministry over their work conditions at the interior mining company.

Over the weekend, Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, met with the workers, who all asked to leave the mining company, citing poor working conditions. Some complained about being overworked for a small salary, while others voiced concerns about their the poor accommodation at the location.

Some of the workers complained that their passports were seized by their employer and they were also prevented from leaving the mining site. Additionally, their contracts had a number of questionable clauses, which included them having to pay thousands of US dollars if they opted to discontinue their working relationship with the mining company.

Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed told News Source this morning that he was shocked at the living and working conditions that the Indian nationals were made to endure. He said his team was able to rescue them and get them out of the area to meet with labour and other officials to address their situation.

“They said when they arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, the company sent a representative to collect them and collect their passports, we heard there is a massive human trafficking ring taking place in this country, and so the Indian nationals have been asking for their passports. It is a crime according to the laws of Guyana, once you confiscate someone’s personal documents for example a passport, its five years jail time plus a million dollars fine. Now today, there is no word from the President or the Vice President, from the Ministry of Labour, from the Commissioner of Police. Now the Indian nationals, all they have on them is their clothes, they have no money”, he said.

Mr. Mohamed said it is clear that the workers and their complaints were being ignored by their employer. He said his team was shocked to see the contract that the workers were made to sign.

“When you see the contract, if worker Tom Jones wants to leave out of his own, they got to pay the company US$5000. Unlawful, that is against our labour laws. That is bondage you call that, modern day slavery. If they terminate you too, you got to pay. US$5000. What is going on in our country and then the President commissioned this same quarry three years ago. Three years ago he went up there, landed there with the helicopter, and commissioned the quarry. So, why can’t he go back now with the helicopter and address all of the concerns with the people”, Mohamed said.

One worker at the mining site lost four of his fingers in a reported accident, and another worker died at the location. While many of his colleagues believe he was overworked, the company has indicated that the man died of a heart attack.

In a statement, while offering its sympathy on the death of the worker, the Ekaa Hrim Earth Resources Management company claimed that there are misleading and inaccurate information circulating about the man’s death.

The company said it has been working with the High Commission of India in Guyana, the Ministry of Labour, and the relevant authorities to ensure that all matters related to this incident are addressed with the utmost transparency and responsibility.

The company did not address the other complaints from the workers in its statement.

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