Sugar workers employed at state-owned factories are to receive their redundancy payments by September 30, Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced at the Jamaica Agricultural Society annual general meeting on Wednesday in May Pen, Clarendon.

Golding said some $2.7 billion in redundancy money would be paid out to sugar workers. Government less than three weeks ago signed a sugar divestment deal with Brazilian firm, Infinity Bio-Energy.

Funding

Two-thirds of the redundancy payments are to be provided by funds secured through the European Union, said the prime minister. The balance would be funded by the Government.

Business enterprise loans

Golding also said a programme would be implemented with the Development Bank of Jamaica to facilitate business enterprise loans for farmers who want to use their payments to create a business.

He also said Infinity Bio-Energy would re-employ some of the workers, but could not state how many would be given jobs.

More than 7,000 sugar workers are currently employed by the five public factories throughout the country.