30 persons on the breadline as Hearts of Palm processor shutdowns

The Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) on Monday revealed that 30 workers of the Amazon Caribbean Guyana Limited (AMCAR) are now jobless after the company decided to shut down its Hearts of Palm plant at Rosignol, West Bank Berbice (WBD).

In a statement, GAWU, which represents the plant employees, said that it is stunned by the decision.

“The Company which had for some time had been complaining about challenges it was encountered. The Union was also aware that the company’s principals were in contact with the Government to address some of the difficulties they were confronting,” GAWU noted.

The Union added, “It was, therefore, shocking when the GAWU learnt that the AMCAR had decided to close its operations at this time.”

According to GAWU, the 30-person workforce was informed of their termination same time as them. In light of this, the Union reminded the company of its obligations per the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act.

“For the workers, the news was a bombshell as they have now seek to look elsewhere to secure a livelihood. The GAWU stands with them in this difficult period. The mostly female workforce is saddened by the company’s decision to terminate them more so as they were highly dependent on their earnings,” the missive concluded.