GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — At least 200 Workers employed by Oldendorff Carriers, a contractor with Rusal Guyana, a subsidiary of the Russian-owned bauxite company, RUSAL, have been given an assurance that they would receive all benefits owed as the company winds down its operations here.

Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes is heading a government task force that was established to look into the future of the Guyana Bauxite Company following United States sanctions on Rusal Guyana’s parent company Russia Aluminium (RUSAL) in April.

The task force has met with several Oldendorff workers following what Broomes said, was a disappointing and disrespectful management meeting with the general manager of Transhipment Projects, Ulf Henriksson.

Broomes assured the employees that the government is working to ensure they are protected from the fall out of US sanctions.

“Your rights will be protected. It has to be protected. There is no if and buts,” she emphasised.

The US sanctions prohibit persons or entities from doing business in US dollars with RUSAL. Henriksson said the company remains on track to wind down its operations in Guyana by October 23 to meet sanction deadlines despite a petition by Rusal Guyana to be removed from the sanctions list.

Broomes said she had instructed Henriksson to begin working with the Labour Department to put contingencies in place and reminded workers that the government will ensure they are adequately compensated in accordance with the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act of 1997.

Henriksson said the company will adhere to the legislation.