GUYSUCO pay cuts undermine trust, workers' rights

Dear Editor,

I write to strongly condemn the recent actions of GUYSUCO in the unilateral removal of the 14% salary increase granted to its management staff in December 2025. This increase was given to the staff from August 2025, and they were expected to benefit from an additional 9% beginning from January 2026. Both increases were unilaterally withdrawn and discontinued without any prior consultation with the staff, an action that represents a clear breach of established principles of good industrial relations.

It is my understanding that GUYSUCO engaged its management team in discussions and arrived at an agreement in principle, which included a temporary salary freeze followed by structured increases of 14% for 2025 and 9% for 2026. This agreement, whether formalised in writing or not, established a framework of trust, mutual respect, and good faith between employer and employee, particularly since they staff all received letters to that effect. Regrettably, after implementing the agreed salary increase for several months (August to December 2025), the company has now chosen to remove it unilaterally and without prior consultation.

Such conduct is deeply troubling. It not only violates the spirit and substance of the prior agreement but also undermines legitimate expectations formed by the affected employees. Good industrial relations demand dialogue, transparency, and respect for commitments made, none of which are reflected in this decision. The arbitrary withdrawal of agreed benefits erodes confidence and damages morale within the organization.

While I acknowledge that GUYSUCO continues to face significant financial challenges, it is important to contextualise these difficulties. The government, despite sound advice to the contrary, made political decisions to reopen estates without securing additional and sustainable export markets for sugar. These decisions have compounded the corporation’s financial strain.

Moreover, the company’s persistent inability in recent years to meet its production targets must be addressed honestly. It is laughable that Guyana is a sugar producing country and was faced with sugar shortages on the local market, and worst of all is GUYSUCO’s inability to even produce sugar in 2023 and 2024 to satisfy our local consumption demands are troubling. Responsibility for this failure rests squarely with the current PPPC administration, whose approach has been marked by poor planning and questionable management decisions.

Editor, at the very least, GUYSUCO can and must do better. Sensible restructuring and, reorganisation, free from political appointments and interference, are urgently needed. However, such reforms must be accompanied by a renewed commitment to fair and ethical labour practices. Anything less will only deepen the crisis facing the corporation.