Paramaribo, Suriname – April 18 – Leading gold mining firm Newmont Suriname is set to implement a revised employee work rotation schedule from April 20 as the centerpiece of a company-wide Fatigue Risk Management program. The initiative is explicitly designed to cut workplace fatigue, strengthen overall site safety, and elevate the long-term wellbeing of the company’s on-site workforce.
The most substantial change brought by the policy is an overhaul of the existing rotation structure. Previously, workers followed a 28-day cycle that split into two consecutive two-week blocks: 14 days of day shifts followed immediately by 14 days of night shifts. Under the new framework, the rotation will shorten each work block to one week, following a 21-day repeating cycle: 7 days of scheduled day shifts, 7 consecutive days of night shifts, and a full 7-day period of rest for employees between rotations.
In addition to the adjusted block scheduling, the new policy requires employees to arrive at the work site one full day before their rotation is set to begin. This extra buffer time is intended to allow workers to acclimate to the site environment and get sufficient rest before starting their first shift, helping to reduce transition fatigue. Core daily shift hours will remain unchanged under the new plan, so workers will not face adjustments to the length or timing of their individual on-the-job shifts.
Company leadership noted that the new roster was not developed in isolation. The policy went through an almost three-year consultation process, which included ongoing discussions with frontline employees and the official Newmont Employee Organization. Throughout the process, multiple competing scheduling models were evaluated for their impacts on worker health, operational output, and regulatory compliance. After reviewing all feedback and test data, the company selected the 7-7-7 rotation model for its balanced ability to support three key priorities: safety performance, employee health, and consistent production continuity across the mine’s operations.
As compensation for the change to the rotation schedule, Newmont is also introducing tangible benefits for participating employees. All workers will receive a higher rotation-based allowance, along with additional paid time off days to offset the scheduling adjustments. The company has emphasized that the new full rotation structure meets all Surinamese labor laws and industry safety regulations. To ensure the new policy delivers on its intended goals, Newmont will closely monitor outcomes, worker feedback, and safety metrics after the policy goes into effect, adjusting elements of the program if needed to protect both worker interests and operational stability.