GEORGETOWN, Guyana - Guyana's government says it welcomes the signing of a two-year collective labour agreement (CLA) between the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) and the Chinese-owned Aurora Gold Mines (AGM) Inc.
The Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning said that the agreement with AGM, which is owned by the Chinese state-owned Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd, will result in significant wage increases and expanded benefits for hundreds of workers at the mining operation.
The agreement covers the period January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2026 and follows extensive negotiations between the company and the union, with the discussions intensified after workers engaged in strike action over stagnant wages and concerns about working conditions at the company’s operations.
Under the CLA, workers will receive a 10 per cent hike across the board wage increase for 2025 and an eight per cent increase for the next year. Provisions have been included to ensure that employees who may have already received increments for this year will receive reconciled adjustments.
Night shift workers will also receive improved earnings, with the night shift premium set at GUY$160 (One Guyana dollar=US$0.004 cents) per hour in 2025 and GUY$200 per hour in 2026. Employees will also receive double overtime pay for work performed on Sundays and holidays.
The agreement introduces enhanced welfare benefits, including increased meal allowances, eight paid sick days per year with compensation for unused days, and company paid transportation for workers travelling to and from the mining site when scheduled flights are cancelled.
Hourly paid workers will also benefit from an improved vacation allowance, which has increased from four percent to six percent of the previous year’s gross earnings. The agreement further provides for paid severance in cases where workers are medically discharged after all other options have been exhausted.
NAACIE general secretary, Dawchan Nagasar, described the signing as historic, noting that it is the first comprehensive CLA concluded between a Guyanese trade union and a gold mining company.
He said that both parties had to adjust to new management structures and processes during the negotiation period.
AGM general manager, Carl Chen, also expressed satisfaction with the conclusion of the Agreement and welcomed the strengthened provisions for employees.
Labour and Manpower Planning Minister, Keoma Griffith, welcomed the agreement and described it as timely and aligned with national labour objectives. He said that its conclusion reflects the perseverance of workers, the Union, and the company and is consistent with the labour priorities outlined in budget 2026.
These priorities include strengthening collective bargaining, improving working conditions across the productive sectors, and expanding institutional support for worker welfare.
