TRADE unions representing workers at Monymusk sugar factory in Clarendon are not happy with the company’s decision to send home some approximately 400 employees for two weeks.

The Jamaica Observer understands that the unions’ fear is that the workers may be kept off the job for longer than the two weeks suggested by the management of the Chinese investors, Pan Caribbean/Complant.

It was reported yesterday that Pan Caribbean laid off the workers on Wednesday, due to an accident in China involving one of the companies supplying material for the preparation of the factories for the next crop. Both field and factory workers preparing the company for the start of the next crop are affected.

However, delegates representing the workers said that there was some indecisiveness on the part of the management during a meeting with them earlier this week. They interpreted it to suggest that the problem may be much bigger than Pan Caribbean has reported.

“For example, we want to know why Frome is not affected,” said one source.

Pan Caribbean bought the Bernard Lodge, Frome and Monymusk estates from the Government’s Sugar Company of Jamaica in August 2011.

The estates are now “out crop”, which means that only workers needed to grow the cane and prepare the factory for the next crop are at work. However, those who are not rostered to work enjoy a guaranteed work arrangement for three days per week, until the crop resumes.

Pan Caribbean Limited has pumped over US$180 million in upgrading equipment and sugar cane acreage at Frome and Monymusk since early last year. The company said that the investment is in keeping with its commitment to the local sugar industry.

However, last year’s crop was some 20 per cent less than the previous year’s crop, and there are fears that challenges, including irrigation problems, could lead to a further reduction in this year’s crop.

The unions representing the workers — the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union, the University and Allied Workers Union, and the National Workers union — have written the management of Pan Caribbean seeking an early meeting to resolve the issues and to reduce tension at the estate.