On Tuesday, April 15, the Suriname Energy Workers’ Union (Ogem Werknemers Organisatie Suriname, OWOS) — the registered labor body representing employees of state-owned utility N.V. Energiebedrijven Suriname (EBS) — brought its long-running internal conflict with EBS management to the desk of Suriname President Jennifer Simons during a formal meeting at the Presidential Cabinet.
The labor dispute recently escalated to a temporary work stoppage, making it a pressing priority for the union leadership to escalate the issue to the highest level of national government. OWOS Chairman Marciano Hellings emphasized that the ongoing tensions at the utility have reached a critical stage, demanding rapid intervention to restore stability to the organization, according to official statements from Suriname’s Communication Service.
In response to the union’s appeal, the Presidential Cabinet has committed to facilitating structured dialogue between the union bargaining team and EBS executive leadership. President Simons announced she will conduct a thorough review of the dispute in the coming days before inviting both parties to sit down for direct negotiations. Her core goal for the mediation process is to de-escalate tensions and ensure the utility can continue its core operations without further disruption.
Hellings voiced confidence in the president’s ability to mediate a fair resolution to the standoff. He noted that Simons has acknowledged the severity of the unrest at EBS and has given a formal commitment that she will not allow the crisis to drag on unresolved.
Beyond the immediate labor conflict, Hellings underscored the critical strategic role EBS plays in both Suriname’s social fabric and broader national economy. With major new development projects on the horizon in Suriname’s fast-growing oil and gas sector, Hellings said EBS stands to capture significant new opportunities to expand its operations and contribute more to national growth — but those gains are only achievable with stable internal governance and a clear long-term strategy.
“Everything hinges on strategic leadership, a transparent shared vision, and a concrete multi-year development plan,” Hellings said. “If that foundational structure is in place and organizational policy receives consistent support from all stakeholders, EBS can get back on a strong positive trajectory.”