With over 11,000 persons having already benefitted from Government’s part-time job programme, a whopping $10 billion has been allocated in Budget 2023 to facilitate the extension of the initiative throughout this year.
Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh said during his presentation that “in 2023, this programme will continue and will be expanded with $10 billion allocated. The beneficiaries of this programme are encouraged to upskill themselves so they can eventually take up full-time employment as the labour market is confronted with a shortage of skills in certain areas.”
The part-time job programme was rolled out in 2022 as part of a suite of measures implemented to cushion the rising cost of living.
File photo: Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo engaging some of the part-time workers at the ACCC
The initiative has allowed for one person per household to work in public offices in close proximity to their homes for 10 days per month and earn $40,000.
Over 11,000 persons were employed through the programme in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), injecting $2.3 billion into these households since the programme started in the second half of 2022.
The part-time jobs initiative is one of a menu of measures implemented by the Government to cushion the effects of the cost of living. Along with supporting farmers and cushioning the net effects of the increased cost of freight and the Russia-Ukraine war, Guyanese are benefiting from a range of tax incentives. Among these incentives in 2022 were removal of VAT on electricity, water and data; reduction of the excise tax on fuel to zero; in addition to many non-tax measures, such as the one-off $25,000 relief grant; reintroduction and increase of the schoolchildren cash grant, as well as its extension to private school students; and a one-off $28,000 cash grant for pensioners and cash grants to support small businesses.
The job opportunities allow for the employees to work for 10 days and earn up to $40,000 on a monthly basis. The jobs are being offered in specific areas within Government Ministries and agencies, and cater to one person per household. So far, some 11,000 Guyanese are currently benefiting from the programme countrywide, and this would cost the Government some $10 billion annually.
