EKAA HRIM Earth Resources Management Inc. confirmed that all outstanding wages for the months of April and May 2026 have been fully processed and settled. The payments were completed on May 25, 2026, ahead of the timeline previously communicated by the Company. Following the completion of the payment process, the Ministry of Labour was formally notified.
The Company further confirms that there are no outstanding base wage or salary obligations owed to any of the 37 employees referenced in recent allegations against the organization. All regular payments due and owing to these individuals have been accounted for and settled in full.
While the base wages and salaries have been processed, the Indian nationals confirmed that their repatriation cost to India is still outstanding and the $2,500 USD previously deducted by the company remains strictly outstanding and has not yet been repaid or resolved as part of this settlement.
Breaking their silence following EKAA HRM’s press conference last week Friday, a group of 37 Indian nationals employed at the quarrying operation in Batavia, Region 7 have come forward to deny allegations that they were “kidnapped or hijacked.” Instead, the workers are exposing a harrowing ordeal of what they describe as systemic labour exploitation, illegal passport withholding, and exorbitant financial penalties designed to keep them trapped in the backwoods of Guyana.
The defense comes in direct response to claims made by their employer, Ekka Hrim Earth Resources Management Inc., which held a press conference alleging that the Leader of the Opposition, identified by workers as “Mr. Mohamed,” had hijacked and abducted the workforce.
“It Was Just Help” Workers Clarify Escape from the Batavia
Speaking to Guyana Standard, the workers expressed gratitude for the assistance they are receiving, entirely refuting the company’s narrative of a criminal abduction.
“We were not kidnapped nor hijacked! We wanted to meet with the Indian High Commissioners and the company refused to help so we asked Mr. Mohamed. We just want to go home to our families!” one Indian national stated emphatically.
The workers described a desperate situation at the company’s interior operational site in Batavia (Region 7), stating they were left stranded without the financial means to seek help.
“On that day we had a very bad situation. We were in a bush,” a spokesperson for the workers explained. “We didn’t have money to transport from Batavia to Georgetown… We wanted to reach the Indian High Commission on Monday, but the company said, ‘No, we will not provide any boat, take your own self.’ We didn’t have money because the company was not paying on time. We were all scared.”
According to the labourers, Mohamed stepped in to provide transport, housing, and food, while facilitating daily trips to the Ministry of Labour and the Indian Embassy. “I don’t think the word is kidnap. It’s just help. Help made by one gentleman. We are reached very safely and we are staying safe.”
Extortion, Confiscated Passports, and the “$5,000 USD Exit Fee”
The workers’ grievances paint a bleak picture of what they describe as deceptive recruitment and forced labour practices. Many of the men were recruited in India through an agency identified as Global Dynamics, paying an average of 84,000 Indian Rupees ($1,000 USD) just to secure the employment.
Upon arrival in Guyana, however, the reality shifted. Workers allege a calculated system designed to restrict their movement. Workers stated there was no agreement allowing the company to hold their travel documents. Passports were kept by the HR manager and only temporarily handed over to workers under strict supervision to open bank accounts or wire money home, before being immediately taken back. This is in direct contradiction to the Company’s statement on the matter where they said there was a “verbal agreement” where the employees “asked” the company to “keep” their passports. The company also allegedly deducted $2,500 USD directly from workers’ salaries as a “guarantee” or “training fee.” If a worker suffered a medical or family emergency and requested to return to India, they were allegedly told they must pay an additional $2,500 USD penalty on top of the money already deducted, totaling a $5,000 USD exit fee, and purchase their own return flight, which currently costs around $2,000 USD.
Official Documents Verify History of Grievances and Extreme Overtime
The dispute is heavily backed by official documentation. Government records from India’s Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) reveal that formal complaints against Ekka Hrim Earth Resources Management Inc. were filed as early as August 2024. ====================================================================
In his official filing, Subramanian detailed severe labour infractions, noting that while his contract mandated a standard 48-hour work week, he was routinely forced to work over 72 hours a week, including grueling night shifts and public holidays.
“Till right now I have worked 1,098 hours overtime including Guyana public holidays and Sunday also. But till date not paid any overtime money by my company,” Subramanian’s official grievance reads. He further noted he was suffering from chronic health issues, including ulcers and severe back pain due to a “lack of proper food and high workload,” and that the company refused to return his passport or allow him to go home.
Ministry of Labour Intervenes as diplomatic Frustrations Grow
Sources close to the matter indicate that the company’s financial strain may be driving the exploitation. “The stone price in Guyana fell because everyone went into the quarry business. The price is low, and the man is running tight with money,” a local source familiar with the sector noted, adding that previous cohorts of Indian workers had been left stranded under similar conditions in recent years.
Frustration has also been directed at diplomatic channels. Subramanian’s official case files show his initial grievances were closed by international authorities with telling him to “take up the matter with the Embassy directly,” causing the workers “significant mental distress”.
The Ministry of Labour has now stepped in to arbitrate. During a recent multi-party meeting, Ekka Hrim representatives reportedly backed down slightly, promising to pay 50 days of outstanding back-wages via online transition. However, the company is dug in on repatriation costs, offering return tickets to only five workers who are close to completing their contracts.
The 37 workers refuse to return to the quarry. While a few hope to utilize a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to seek legal employment with other growing businesses in Guyana, the vast majority are demanding their wages and a safe passage home.
The Ministry of Labour is currently reviewing the company’s contract copies and financial statements alongside legal counsel. A definitive ruling on the wage settlements and repatriation requirements is expected this Wednesday.
Meanwhile, back in India, the workers’ families remain in a state of constant anxiety. “Families are still worrying about us,” a worker shared. “We requested the Ministry to please make it soon. We just need our tickets, our money, and to go back to India.”
