The Barbados Energy and Sugar Company Inc. (BESCO) will sever 10 employees following the conclusion of the 2026 sugar harvest.
The company said the move is part of a limited restructuring aimed at aligning its staffing and operating costs with current commercial realities.
BESCO said the decision followed sustained operational and financial pressures affecting both the company and the wider sugar industry.
Since the divestment of Government’s sugar operations, BESCO has operated as a private company without a Government subvention. It said it must fund its operations through commercial revenues while meeting the costs of factory operations, cane processing, maintenance, labour and other obligations.
“This is a painful decision for the company because it affects people who have contributed to BESCO and to Barbados’ sugar industry. At the same time, BESCO has a responsibility to make decisions that protect the viability of the business and preserve the possibility of continued operations in future crop years,” a company spokesperson said.
The company said affected employees have been informed and will be guided through the applicable severance process by management and its Human Resources department.
BESCO said the restructuring was not a reflection of the value of the affected workers but a necessary step to support a more sustainable operating model.
“The decision is not a reflection on the value of the individuals affected. It reflects the commercial reality facing BESCO and the need to ensure that the company is not carrying cost structures that it cannot sustain. Our priority is to handle this process respectfully, lawfully, and with as much care as possible,” the spokesperson said.
The company said it remains committed to the future of cane processing and will continue working with farmers, suppliers, regulators, employees and other stakeholders to improve efficiency and strengthen the long-term viability of the sector.
“We understand the national significance of sugar and the concern that any workforce decision will create. BESCO’s objective is not simply to reduce costs, but to make the adjustments required to give the business a stronger chance of continuing to serve farmers, customers, workers, and Barbados in the years ahead,” the spokesperson said. (PR)