Indian quarry workers to be paid before month-end, no word on return airfares

The 38 Indian nationals, who alleged that they were subjected to poor working and restrictive conditions on a quarry at Batavia, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), would be paid all outstanding monies next week, but Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed said EKAA HRIM Earth Resources has so far refused to pay return airfares for most of the aggrieved workers.

“During the course of the consultations, the management of EKAA HRIM Earth Resources committed to disbursing all outstanding salaries and wages due, on or before the 27th of May, 2026,” the ministry said in a statement.

The labour ministry said both sides raised other matters for which they have undertaken to supply additional supporting documentation in the new week.

No details were provided.

The labour ministry said each worker met with representatives of the India-headquartered company, and officials of the ministries of labour, legal affairs, home affairs and human services, and India’s acting High Commissioner to Guyana, Manoj Kumar. “Both sides raised other matters, for which they have undertaken to supply additional supporting documentation, in the new week,” the ministry said.The Opposition Leader told Demerara Waves Online News that the company was maintaining that most of the workers breached their contract and so they were not entitled to return airfares. “The company refused to stand the expense for all tickets. They only want to stand the expense for five or eight of the tickets for those who stayed for three years,” he said.  He said as far as he was aware, the labour ministry did not take a decision on that.

He said the negotiations with the company are scheduled to resume next Monday morning when the workers are expected to provide pay slips to back up their claims that they were owed monies other than salaries for April.

He said the workers were alleging that EKAA HRIM Earth Resources deducted other monies from their earnings and held them as security.

While the labour ministry said it was investigating allegations of labour and occupational safety and health violations involving Indian nationals employed at EKAA HRIM Earth Resources and would be guided by the principles of due process and compliance with the laws of Guyana, Mr Mohamed disagreed with labour minister Keoma Griffith’s work so far.

“Although his mandate is to protect the rights of workers, he’s not doing that. Look how many breaches with this EKAA quarry,” he said.

Mr Mohamed said the workers “never received a pay slip”.

Meanwhile, he said police officers were called in and informed him at the labour ministry that he would not be allowed in the meeting or in the boardroom.

Mr Mohamed and other parliamentary representatives of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party first brought the plight of the workers to the public during a visit there.

The workers were transported to one of his properties where they are being accommodated and provided meals.

Mr Mohamed said a lawyer has been consulted to address the allegation of human trafficking that is being levelled against the company because the workers’ said their passports had been held.

EKAA HRIM Earth Resources consultant, Yoganand Persaud said earlier this week that the workers had voluntarily given their passports to the company for safekeeping.

Those travel documents have since been returned after the labour minister and the acting Indian High Commissioner intervened.