The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) on May 02, 2018 at its Kingston, Georgetown Head Office engaged a team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Fund is currently undertaking its annual Article IV exercise wherein they assess the country’s economic situation and trajectory after hearing from the Government and other stakeholders as well. Our Union was indeed pleased to welcome the team as it has been for many years now.
During our discussions, which lasted for about an hour and a half, the IMF team was keen to hear from the GAWU its views on the developments in the sugar industry which it said made significant economic and social impacts. The sad situation being played out in many villages whereby thousands of workers have been put on the breadline following the closure of four sugar estates during the last two years. The Union lamented that the decisions to minimize the sugar industry was taken without any study to really assess the ramifications. The GAWU contended that had such an examination been properly, and more so sincerely pursued it certainly could have very well avoided the harshness of the situation today.
The IMF team wanted to know how the displaced workers were coping at this time. And it was revealed that many are unable to get steady jobs and even in those instances where they have found jobs, the conditions are, in many instances, far inferior from what they enjoyed as a sugar worker. This, state of affairs it was noted, has had a telling impact on family life with some workers having to contend with the reality of a broken family, noticeable growth of domestic violence, or to discontinue their children’s education, etc. The issue of severance was raised and it was noted that the payments the workers received could not sustain them for any considerable period.
