Redundancy clouds loom over sugar workers

Mark Titus, Gleaner Writer

Western Bureau:

While producers are seemingly on course to meet their projected targets for the first time since the 2009 privatisation of the sugar sector, there is still a cloud of uncertainty over the job security of some of the casual workers.

The uncertain situation with the casual workers comes against the background of the recent redundancy notices served on several workers employed to Pan Caribbean Sugar Company (PCSC), the owners of Bernard Lodge, Monymusk, and the Frome sugar factories, as well as indications, that other layoffs are looming.

"We understand that they have to make back the money they put in (invested), but to lay us off like this was not what we expected," said 56-year-old Conrad Fray, a cane cutter of Grange Hill in Westmoreland.

"Cutting cane is how I feed my family over the years, and besides that, no one is going to employ me now at this age."

Once the most important sugar-producing region in the Western Hemisphere, western Jamaica has stumbled badly in recent times. In fact, had it not been for the Appleton Estate in St Elizabeth, which has been fairly consistent in producing approximately 30,000 tonnes of sugar annually, it would have been a tale of gloom and doom.

Pan Caribbean Sugar Company was formed in 2011 by the Chinese firm COMPLANT to operate the Frome, Bernard Lodge, and Monymusk sugar factories, which were acquired from the Government.

In recent weeks, 200 workers at Frome in Westmoreland were served with redundancy notices. Prior to that, termination letters were served on more than 30 employees at Monymusk. The termination letters were subsequently withdrawn after the intervention of trade unions.

WAS NOT AGREED ON

"This is not a part of what was agreed on during negotiations," said Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Roger Clarke in speaking to the redundancy notices and termination letters against the background of the privatisation deal. "This is quite alarming!"

Clarke, who is also the member of parliament for central Westmoreland, where the Frome Sugar Estate is located, held a meeting with officials of PCSC in Kingston last week. However, while the performance of the factory was reportedly discussed, it is unclear as to whether redundancy was discussed.

"We have no idea as to why they (the PCSC) are thinking about layoffs at this time," a veteran cane farmer told Western Focus earlier this week. "I know of no mechanisation plans that would be taking place almost at the end of the crop year to affect workers to this extent.

"They (PCSC) were out of cane last Sunday, but they had some 3,000 tonnes the following day, so obviously, they are gathering cane for grinding," the farmer noted. "There is no shortage of cane."

It should be noted that since the start of the current reaping period, the Chinese firm has fulfilled its one-year supply arrangement for 20 tonnes with Sucres & Denrées at a price of US$844 per tonnes. The company appears poised to utilise a window to sell an additional 15 tonnes to the Europeans.

Frome has so far churned out 34,193 tonnes of sugar, and with a few days to go, could surpass the 40,000 tonnes target it set itself at the start of 2012/2013.