FGR Bogoso Prestea to settle severance package of disgruntled workers

Management of Future Global Resources (FGR) who recently acquired the Bogoso Prestea Mines from Golden Star Resources has reached an agreement to settle the severance package of some disgruntled permanent employees of the company.

The payment of the severance package would be in three stages between October 2021 and October 2023.

This agreement only deals with severance as a result of change in ownership of the company.

In addition to the severance payments, all affected permanent employees would also be re-engaged on established contracts of employment with a specified period of time.

This agreement was reached after a seven days meeting of the Joint Standing Negotiation Committee (JSNC), which was made up of FGR Bogoso Prestea Limited, the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union (GMWU) of the Trades Union Congress, Bogoso Gold Enterprise Based Union of Ghana Federation of Labour, and Exempt Staff of FGR Bogoso Prestea Limited.

In a communique that was issued by the JSNC after the meeting, it noted that, following this agreement, the court action instituted against Golden Star Resources by the affected workers would be abandoned.  

Read :GSR urges all to desist from acts likely to undermine legal process

Sale of mine

Following the sale of the Bogoso Prestea Mine in September 2020, employees under the previous owner, Golden Star Resources (GSR), had expected payment of severance prior to the completion of the transaction.

This was, however, not met which consequently led to a series of industrial actions and a lawsuit instituted against GSR Bogoso Prestea Limited, albeit not successful in the first instance.

The justice of a High Court of Ghana, following his ruling of the first ins

tance, encouraged the parties to take advantage of existing channels of communication to arrive at a resolution to the severance issue. Same was advised by the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union.

Joint Standing Negotiation Committee

As a result, an extraordinary Joint Standing Negotiation Committee (JSNC) meeting between FGR Bogoso Prestea Limited, the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union (GMWU) of the Trades Union Congress, Bogoso Gold Enterprise Based Union (BGEBU) of Ghana Federation of Labour, and Exempt Staff of FGR Bogoso Prestea Limited, was convened and witnessed by officers of the Labour Department.

The meeting was intended to manage the concerns relating to the severance payment for the permanent Employees of FGR Bogoso Prestea Limited.  

The communique noted that all parties contributed to the discussions in good faith with the view to restore and sustain operations at the Mine, as well as rebuild the company’s social licence to operate.

“What has emerged from the Extraordinary JSNC meeting, which lasted seven days, is an aligned way forward that includes a negotiated three-stage severance payment plan between October 2021 and October 2023 for the affected permanent Employees.

“Following this, it has been agreed that the court action instituted against GSR Bogoso Prestea Limited by the affected workers will be abandoned. Having mutually agreed a way forward, the outcome of the meeting has averted further industrial actions resulting from the sale of the Mine by GSR and the associated non-payment of severance. Mining operations can now continue in the interest of all parties and the local communities,” the communique noted.