Guyoil Bonus: A case of legitimate expectation
DEAR EDITOR,
The Guyana Oil Company (Guyoil) since its formation in 1976 has been one of the very few autonomous corporations of the state that has made a profit every year from its operations. It also has the unique distinction of paying bonuses to company employees every year of its existence without missing a beat. The question that has always been on the lips of Guyoil employees was not whether there will be a bonus or not, but rather ‘how much will that be? Would it be two, three or four weeks? Reading the announcement that Guyoil would not pay employees a bonus or salary increase this year was a real disappointment. Paying the bonus based on the company’s profitability each year has created a legitimate expectation in the minds of all employees and will act as a major disincentive if not paid. Guyoil is an autonomous state entity and as such can pay bonuses independently outside any other Public Service agreement. However, Guyoil has always been treated like political football. When it suits the government, it is an autonomous entity as in the case when it rejects their request for duty-free concession on vehicles because of the said autonomy but when it comes to higher wages and bonuses, it is only what it is public servants accept it they can get because that is now their convenient distribution. In this time of Covid, it is more than a legitimate expectation for the employees to receive a bonus; this is the corporate, responsible, humane thing to do, especially in light of the fact that Guyoil remains a very profitable State Initiative. The bonus should be paid immediately.
Yours faithfully,
Reggie Bhagwandin