Khan: NGC workers treated fairly

Responding to a question in the House of Representatives, Khan said most of these people were, “connected to the aborted Beetham Wastewater Treatment Project” under the former People’s Partnership (PP) government.

He reminded MPs that the project was terminated after the People’s National Movement (PNM) assumed office in September 2015. Khan said some of these people were administrative assistants while others were, “displaced by offshore workers who were successfully re-deployed in 2016.” Reiterating that none of these people were permanent employees, Khan said, “NGC had followed best practice with this exercise, treating them as permanent workers under the Industrial Relations Act by affording them severance benefits.” He added, “No other company in this country has ever done that.” Khan said these people will be provided with counselling and the move is important as NGC seeks to streamline its operations for greater efficiency.

Later in the sitting, Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George rejected respective requests from Couva North MP Ramona Ramdial and Caroni Central MP Dr Bhoe Tewarie to have the domestic seabridge and the closure of the Preysal Government Primary School, raised as matters on the adjournment of the House.