Some of the scores of workers severed by the former state-owned Barbados Agricultural Management Company, BAMC, are to be re-hired by private companies starting from the middle of next month.
That’s according to a letter sent this week to the General Secretary of the Barbados Workers Union by the Chairman of the now defunct BAMC, Dr. Clyde Mascoll.
The letter sets out the Transition of the BAMC which ceased to exist from this week as government privatized its sugar industry operations. BAMC has been replaced by two private sector companies.
The letter states that the redundancy payment for all employees is to be settled by funds advanced by the government of Barbados to the BAMC and that a request for funds was made on Tuesday, 19th December.
It adds that the severance payment is to come from the National Insurance and Social Security Service.
The letter states that Consultation with the NISS has already started and settlement is likely to occur at the end of February.
The letter explains that due to the traditional Christmas break in operations in the sugar industry, the hiring of employees is scheduled during the week of January 15th.
The new private sector companies have agreed to increase the hourly rate of workers from $9.03 and three cent to $12.50 per hour.
