McClashie on retrenched Yara workers: 'We're working on it'

MINISTER of Labour Stephen McClashie said plans to assist retrenched Yara Trinidad Ltd workers will be discussed at a meeting on Saturday.

On November 18, Yara issued retrenchment notices to 15 workers which will take effect from January 2.

The Oilfield Workers' Trade Union (OWTU) has been calling on the Labour Ministry to intervene. It also wrote a letter to McClashie on December 21, which he said he had received.

Speaking with Newsday on Thursday morning, McClashie said the ministry is working on it.

“We are progressing. We have taken note of all the issues and, without saying anything much more to prejudice the discussions we would have had, I would say we are on top of it. We have been dealing with it in terms of talking to the parties and steps for that meeting.”

Exactly a year ago, Yara shut down Yara Trinidad, the smallest of the three plants it operates in Pt Lisas.

On July 7, 2020 its Tringen I plant was also shut down.

It said this was done because of “current market conditions.”