Aurora Gold Mines workers get 10 per cent pay hike

Gold mine workers at Aurora Gold Mines will receive higher wages and expanded workplace protections under a new two-year Collective Labour Agreement signed with the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE), the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning said on Thursday.

The agreement covers the period from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2026, following months of negotiations that intensified after workers staged strike action over stagnant wages and working conditions at the company’s Region Seven operations.

Under the deal, workers will receive a 10 per cent across-the-board wage increase in 2025 and an 8 per cent increase in 2026, with provisions to reconcile adjustments for employees who already received increments this year.

Night shift premiums will rise to $160 per hour in 2025 and $200 per hour in 2026, while double overtime will apply for work on Sundays and public holidays.

The agreement also introduces improved welfare benefits, including higher meal allowances, eight paid sick days annually with compensation for unused days, company-paid transportation when scheduled flights are cancelled, and increased vacation allowances for hourly paid workers.

Provisions for paid severance in cases of medical discharge are also included.
NAACIE General Secretary Dawchan Nagasar said the agreement was historic, marking the first comprehensive collective labour agreement between a Guyanese trade union and a gold mining company.

Labour Minister Keoma Griffith welcomed the agreement, saying it aligns with national labour priorities outlined in Budget 2026, while Aurora Gold Mines General Manager Carl Chen expressed satisfaction with the strengthened protections for employees.