The Rusal Bauxite Company has decided to send most of its remaining workers home as other workers who were laid off last week over an alleged fuel shortage at the company, continue their blockage of the Berbice River.
Workers were notified yesterday of the company’s decision to send them all home.
The company said the decision is based on the adverse circumstances of its operations including the blockage of the Berbice River.
The letter to workers, which listed their names and job descriptions, informed them that their dismissal will take effect from today.
The move by the Russian owned Bauxite company came on the eve of a previously scheduled meeting between the company and the Chief Labour Officer over the company’s decision last week to lay off 140 workers because of a reported fuel shortage.
The company came under criticism for that move by both the Government and the Trade Union representing the workers, with union officials pointing to the timing of the company’s decision and linking it to an attempt to influence local elections.
The 140 workers who were laid off were told that they would get their jobs back once the fuel situation stabilized.
But the workers questioned the move, saying that there was no fuel shortage. They protested by blocking sections of the Berbice River to prevent the company from loading and shipping its bauxite.
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