Human resources issues in Sugar Corporation being addressed - Agri-Minister confident GUYSUCO will meet targets

Georgetown, GINA, November 12, 2007.

Government remains committed to modernise and further develop the sugar industry, and is implementing necessary measures to help the industry overcome its current challenges, including human resources issues.

This is according to Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud, who noted that a new Board of Directors has been instituted and has been urged to focus on changing the way of operation, a process that has already begun at various levels.

One of the main areas of consideration is the human resource element taking into account issues such as frequent industrial actions. A process of dialogue has started between management of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) and the unions that represent the workers to address all the human resources issues affecting operations.

“Human resource issues are dynamic. Management and the unions have been encouraged to work closely and to utilise all the mechanisms at their disposal to ensure that there is a reduction in friction or any cause for industrial action,” Minister Persaud said.

He explained that this is important since there is a ‘tight-shift’ and any action, whether good or bad, will have a direct impact on the future viability of the sugar industry and the Corporation.

The industry already has to deal with the price cuts implemented by the European Union (EU) and it is necessary to ensure that the human resources issues are addressed if Government’s investments and adjustments in the industry are to achieve success, Minister Persaud pointed out.

The need for all to put a greater effort forward from the workers to management was highlighted and according to the Minister, there is evident of changes in this regard and these will continue.

“So while I am concerned, I know that there is a plan of action to address some of those contributory factors and one of the major issues we have to deal with is the culture of management that exists and which must be changed,” he said.

The Minister further expressed optimism that GUYSUCO will meet its targets although there have been a great loss of days. The need to improve attendance and to ensure that the ‘opportunity days’ are fully maximized were highlighted.

The sugar industry contributes between 17 and 18 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provides employment for more than 30, 000 persons. It is operated by GUYSUCO, a single State-owned Corporation, on a fully commercial basis.

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