GUYANA-Quarry company denies reports of exploitation and abuse of Indian nationals.
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Ekaa Hrim Quarry company, which is at the center of an investigation by the Labor Ministry and other Government Departments following a complaint of exploitation and abuse by a group of Indian Nationals, has denied the serious allegations. Earlier this week, the company was given 24 hours to respond to […]
Black News 
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Ekaa Hrim Quarry company, which is at the center of an investigation by the Labor Ministry and other Government Departments following a complaint of exploitation and abuse by a group of Indian Nationals, has denied the serious allegations.
Earlier this week, the company was given 24 hours to respond to a complaint filed by 38 Indian nationals who were employed by the company. The Indians complained of being forced to work long hours with poor working and living conditions and low salaries.
The issue was first highlighted by Opposition Leader, Azruddin Mohamed, during a visit to the Region 7 area where the company is located.
Minister of Labor Keoma Griffith met with workers and company officials. The Labor Ministry is leading the probe of the complaints.
Speaking to reporters, Griffith said the company has denied the allegations, but the investigations remain active.
“Of course, they have denied the allegations, I can tell you that much. They have denied the allegations. It now calls on us to investigate both sides, and, of course, the workers have said some things we are going to take seriously, but the company has a different version. What is our responsibility? Our responsibility is to listen to both sides and to investigate. I will never cause anybody in my Ministry, nor will I ever put the cart before the horse in any allegation. It is my duty to ensure that everything is examined before we come to the media or the public to give information. We will not be irresponsible and give misinformation to the public”, Griffith said.
In their initial complaint, the IndianS also stated that the company has held their passports since they arrived in Guyana. Those passports have since been returned to the workers following the Labor Minister’s intervention.
Griffith said his Ministry takes all allegations seriously and is examining the allegations made by the foreign workers.
He said that because the allegations cover several different areas, other Government Ministries and Departments are also involved in the probe.
He said, “The allegations relate to an unsafe and unhealthy working environment, and of course, allegations relating to personal property and artifacts belonging to the workers. They have denied those allegations, and it is now up to us to investigate before we determine”.
The Minister said the mining company also denied allegations that it had confiscated the passports of the foreign workers during their employment. He said the investigation will also cover the contracts that the workers signed for the jobs. Those contracts included a provision requiring workers to pay a US$3,000 fee if they were terminated or resigned. Many of them complained that they were paid just over the minimum wage, and although deductions were made from their salaries, the details of those deductions were never provided to them.
The Indian High Commission has also been meeting with workers and the Ministry of Labor regarding their complaints.
