– should be paid for nearly 4,000 hours when overtime considered
Following our public statement, the GAWU’s oil and gas branch has engaged some of the workers terminated by the GYSBI seemingly because of their public expression of concerns. Our discussions were quite revealing and assisted us in better understanding their situation. The workers explained they were contracted to work twelve and a half (12 ½) hours daily over fourteen (14) consecutive days. Following that stint they are afforded a week off though they shared they were on call at any time. Their contract did not indicate whether they benefitted from any overtime pay bearing in mind the national 40-hour work week.
From our computations, assuming a worker is not called out during their week off, workers working time would amount to 2,975 hours annually. To understand the gravamen of the situation, ordinarily workers would work 2,080 hours per annum. Whereas the workers at the shore base work some 43% more than the standard working hours. To the best of our knowledge, we are unaware of workers working such long periods consistently. Moreover, when overtime pay is factored, disregarding holidays, workers should be paid for 3,995 hours work. On weekends, the workers, when overtime is considered, work more than 40 hours in just two days. If indeed their salaries account for the substantial hours, it gives them a vivid idea of what really are earning on an hourly basis.
Additionally, in many organized workplaces, workers enjoy other benefits such as meal allowances or transportation. The workers shared that they did not receive such benefits. They also lamented the attitude of certain senior personnel who they said, it appeared, held no respect for them. Clearly, the workers are heavily overworked and not receipt of benefits which their contemporaries in other sectors benefit from. It speaks to the plight of the unorganized workforce in Guyana and the need to address their situation.
Our Union remains a staunch advocate of all workers especially the heavily overworked oil sector workers. We continue to urge the workers to reach out to us through WhatsApp 623-GAWU (4298), by Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, email: info@gawugy.com, our website: www.gawugy.com, by telephone 227-2091/2, 225-5321, 223-6523 or by visiting our office at 59 High Street and Wights Lane, Kingston, Georgetown.
