Tag: workers

Leaders reaffirm support for the working class   

Posted on by Kayleigh Carter

Leaders across the country today called for sustained support for Guyana’s working class, reaffirming their commitment to workers’ rights and economic empowerment.

Guyana joins countries the world over in observance of Labour Day 2025.

President Dr Irfaan Ali, in his message to mark the occasion, said it is a propitious day to reflect on the heroic and historic struggles of workers worldwide who have fought tirelessly for justice and dignity, not only within the walls of their workplaces but in wider society.

He assured Guyana’s labour movement of the government’s support for protecting their rights, noting that workers have a friend in his government.

Guyanese workers, the President said, stand to benefit equitably from the country’s growing economy, and can look forward to a future that will guarantee continued improvements in incomes and investments, and one which generates personal, household, and inter-generational wealth.

Guyanese workers, the President added, will continue to benefit from improvements in housing, water, and sanitation, lower energy costs, better social security, transformative infrastructure, and meaningful opportunities for economic empowerment.

President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Seepaul Narine, in his message said the Guyanese working class continue to benefit from the country’s rapidly growing economy, despite challenges.

“Our workers power this nation. Despite the odds and challenges of adjusting to a fast-growing economy, our workers continue to give their best. You are the foundation upon which Guyana’s progress stands. Guyana is progressing. We are seeing a transformation that not long ago felt like a dream. Massive investments in infrastructure, expansion of social services and renewed attention to agriculture, housing, energy, education and healthcare are all reshaping our country for the better. We acknowledge that the government has taken several pro-worker initiatives, from improved access to education, vocational training, expanded healthcare coverage and housing solutions,” he said.

Speaking at the annual Labour Day rally, which culminated outside of the Critchlow Labour College in Georgetown, General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Lincoln Lewis, re-emphasised calls for workers’ rights to be valued and respected.

He also reissued numerous demands to suit the needs of the working class in times of need, including unemployment benefits through the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

“Launch unemployment benefits through the NIS. Since 1969 the NIS was established. The Act made provision for unemployment benefits but was never activated. We are demanding that we get the money, let we put it there. If a man gets knocked off from his work this week here, and he doesn’t get a job until the next nine months, by the time he gets that job he has gone further down in poverty. Let us get NIS unemployment benefits in place that can help that man through six or nine months.”

Also speaking on the sidelines of the rally, Alliance For Change (AFC) member Nigel Hughes made the call for the working class to have access to the highest international standard healthcare and for significant improvements in wages and salaries.

The government is investing heavily in healthcare through the construction of 12 state-of-the-art hospitals, and today, there are 84 telemedicine sites in Guyana.

Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo said that public sector workers now receive $105 billion more annually in wages, benefits, and bonuses than they did in 2020.

He also pointed to gains in labour rights, citing new multi-year collective bargaining agreements with the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU).

Seepaul Narine

Photo Credit: Office of the President 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PPP touts achievements, salutes workers’ contributions 

Posted on by Kayleigh Carter

See full statement below

Today, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) stands proudly with the working people of Guyana in commemorating Labour Day 2025 — a day honouring the courage, resilience, and sacrifices of the working class, whose collective strength continues to build our nation and shape our future.

Labour Day is more than a celebration. It is a reminder of the struggles waged, the victories won, and the work still to be done in advancing justice, fair wages, equal opportunities, and improved working conditions. It is also a time for critical reflection — to assess how far we have come, and to ensure that the rights and dignity of our workers remain central to national development.

When analysing progress on Labour Day, it is important to make the right comparisons — to examine how labour relations, working conditions, and opportunities have improved. By every measure, Guyana’s working people have made enormous progress over the past four and a half years under the PPP/C Government.

 

Since its founding, the PPP has walked shoulder to shoulder with Guyana’s workers. From Dr. Cheddi Jagan’s vision to the present, our Party has consistently fought for the empowerment, dignity, and well-being of the working class. That proud legacy continues.

Since returning to office in August 2020, your PPP/C Government has remained faithful to its promises, delivering tangible, life-changing benefits to working families across this country:

Over 60,000 Guyanese who were not employed when we took office in 2020 are now working.

More than 50,000 persons have received government-funded training and scholarships, preparing them for modern, in-demand careers.

Thousands of teachers have received training through Cyril Potter College and the GOAL Scholarship Programme, and an additional 3,000 new teachers have been hired.

We restored collective bargaining as a principle of good labour relations, signing multi-year agreements with GPSU, GTU, and GAWU.

Increased the tax threshold and provided tax relief for overtime work and those who work a second job, directly improving the disposable income of working families.

Delivered one-off relief payments to thousands of workers previously denied NIS benefits, and to contributors who fell short of the qualifying threshold, correcting decades of neglect.

We have complemented these efforts by distributing thousands of house lots, reversing burdensome taxes imposed by the previous administration, and generating thousands of sustainable jobs across sectors like construction, health, education, technology, energy, manufacturing, and agriculture.

Labour Day should always be used to celebrate, track progress, and ask critical questions about whether life has improved for our workers and whether the country is moving in the right direction. In today’s Guyana, the answer is a resounding yes.

Labour Day 2025 finds our nation on an upward path — one where working families feel the benefits of our country’s growth, and new opportunities are opening daily. Every new school, every new road, every job created, and every policy implemented is a testament to our commitment to placing the welfare of our working people at the heart of development.

As we honour the contributions of our workers today, we reaffirm this government’s unwavering commitment to fairness, equity, and dignity in the workplace. The PPP/C will continue to champion policies that ensure the benefits of national development are shared by all Guyanese, with no one left behind.

Let us move forward, united in solidarity and purpose, knowing that together, we will build a nation defined by hope, opportunity, and prosperity for all.

Happy Labour Day to all.

Long live the workers of Guyana!

Economic boom driving shift in pay and work culture

Posted on by Kayleigh Carter

Guyana’s positive economic growth has created a natural shift in the local pay scale and the need to redefine the local work culture.

With this shift being supported by the government, Chief Investment Officer and Agency Head of the Guyana Office for Investment, Dr Peter Ramsaroop, said it would benefit foreign companies to also understand this change.

Dr Ramsaroop told Ignite News that Guyana is no longer viewed as a poor “third world” country, and foreign corporations may need to reconsider their approach to local employment given the country’s economic growth, its appealing proximity to the Western world, its English-speaking advantage, and favourable climate for business operations.

“Definitely in Guyana, the pay scale is on the rise,” Dr Ramsaroop said.

He also noted that Guyana’s proximity to the United States, for example, makes it far more strategic than a location such as the Philippines, where work may be cheaper, but clients must travel a great distance to oversee their operations and contend with natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes—factors that are unfavourable in the outsourcing industry.

“So, the Guyana government has recognised the changing economy and the pay scale. That’s why we have developed incentives to keep attracting these companies—whether it’s the availability of BPO shells across the country, which we are now in the phase of filling, or incentives that our office is able to offer these companies so that they can benefit from a lower CapEx.”

A lower capital expenditure, he continued, will help maintain pay levels that are not necessarily in line with what companies pay elsewhere, but that remain competitive with other sectors locally.

Work is already in progress to train Guyanese workers in improving the quality of service they provide and how they interact, taking into account the cultural differences between locals and foreign clients setting up operations here.

“We’ve offered that type of training. We’re in conversation with the Ministry of Labour to look at it as a curriculum item in their training. And yes, I think a lot of our folks, who have not been exposed to cultural differences and the way you communicate with people in the Western world, can benefit from such training. We are committed to working with companies to assist in that training,” the Chief Investment Officer noted.

He firmly believes that new skill sets and experiences are key to developing successful careers, and the Guyana government is committed to ensuring the local workforce benefits significantly from the changing economy.