HGP Nightly News – AGM Inc. has confirmed that a brief work stoppage occurred on Sunday, December 28, 2025, at the Mills round pad area of its Aurora Gold Mine operation in Region Seven, stating that the issue was addressed swiftly and that operations have since resumed.
In a statement released on Sunday, AGM said the stand-down took place between 07:18 hrs and 08:10 hrs and involved employees from the Mills Department. According to the company, the stoppage arose from discussions surrounding a proposed wage adjustment, during which workers expressed their concerns.
AGM said engagement between its Human Resources Department and union representatives, including direct communication with the union’s General Secretary, resulted in consensus for employees to return to work. A formal meeting between management and union representatives is scheduled for Tuesday, December 30, 2025, to continue discussions and negotiations.
The company further stated that employees returned to their respective work areas and mill operations resumed at 08:18 hrs, emphasising that it remains committed to respectful dialogue, workplace stability, and constructive engagement.
AGM said operations are continuing as normal.However, workers at the Aurora Gold Mine paint a far more troubling picture behind the brief stoppage. Employees say the downing of tools was driven by long-standing frustration over stagnant wages and deteriorating working conditions, despite the mine’s rapid expansion over recent years.
According to workers, their last wage adjustment was made nearly two years ago, with some employees receiving increases of as little as GYD$36 per hour. They argue that such increases do not reflect the scale, profitability, or growing demands of the operation.
Since 2020, workers claim the size of mining operations has tripled, with expanded production targets, heavier workloads, and rising expectations, all without corresponding improvements in pay, staffing levels, or working conditions. The Aurora Gold Mine, located along the Cuyuni River in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), is South America’s only large-scale operational gold mine.
It is owned by Zijin Mining and operates both open-pit and expanding underground mining, supported by large-scale processing facilities and ongoing upgrades. While the mine is widely regarded as a major contributor to Guyana’s mining sector and broader economic transition, workers say their voices have been marginalised and their concerns repeatedly overlooked.
They are now calling on relevant authorities to intervene urgently, insisting that meaningful wage adjustments and improved labour standards must accompany the mine’s growth. As formal talks approach, the brief stand-down may be over, but workers warn that the underlying issues remain unresolved, and that stability at one of Guyana’s most important mining operations depends on more than a return to normal operations.
