Address the real issues; put measures in place – SASOD

Women on night shift

By Lakhram Bhagirat

The Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) is wondering whether Junior Social Protection Minister Keith Scott was trying to deviate from addressing the real issues when he said that single mothers who are security guards should be barred from working the night shift.

In August, Scott made the proposal, saying that he hoped Cabinet would throw its support behind it, but Government has since stated that it does not agree with Scott. However, the Minister seems to be forging ahead with his plan, despite serious backlash from various sections of society.
In an interview with the Managing Director of SASOD, Joel Simpson, and the advocacy body’s Human Rights Coordination, Valini Leitch, they told Guyana Times that if the Minister forges ahead and becomes successful, the lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LBT) would be further marginalised.
There are a number of lesbian, bisexual and transgender women working for private security firms because they have no other alternatives, since they are already being discriminated when accessing jobs. Simpson explained that some security firms would approach the organisation when they have vacancies, so that they can recommend members from the LGBT community to fill those positions.
“SASOD’s position is that, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, persons should have access to all kinds of jobs, and jobs that they want. For many people, working security at night provides the opportunity to do many things during the day, including their own small business, go to school and study, and so on; and they need that as an extra source of income,” he explained.

He said that there are many lesbian and bisexual women who are in vulnerable positions, and need to work to support their young children. And he added that in most cases their families are available in the night to take care of the child/children.
He further explained that he understands that the Minister’s action is rooted in the desire to have single mothers present at home to raise their children, but he advised that Government should provide more assistance to single mothers who are in vulnerable positions.
He suggested harsher penalties and higher child support payments as a step to helping single mothers.
The Social Protection Ministry should look at different formulas to address the issues that plague single mothers, he said.
“We don’t try to address root causes, and this is the problem with the Minister’s approach. It doesn’t really tackle the root causes. We like these kind of Band-Aid approach. Why not set up a programme in the Public Service where single mothers can get priority access to certain jobs to provide an opportunity to take care of their families? And if a programme like that exists and it pays better than the security companies, then I am sure they will take advantage of it,” Simpson suggested.
He said he is sure that women are not lining up to work security at nights, as opposed to having a regular day job, but they do the job because of dire economic circumstances. However, he questioned whether Scott made those statements as a distraction from the real issues, such as ensuring that sweeper-cleaners in schools are given their correct wages.
Leitch questioned the technique used by Scott to arrive at such a conclusion. Leitch noted that such a decision needs careful analysis and a concrete plan to assist the affected mothers.
“Are we going to look at implementing a social welfare plan in the form of something like the EBT, where you give single mothers a card with a specific amount of money to access food at the end of the month? How will they be able to pay bills? Will they be able to get subsidized utility bills?” she questioned.
Minister Scott had warned companies that there were reports of sexual harassment and persons being paid below the minimum wage. He also said that Government was considering measures for single moms not to work the night shifts.
The Guyana Association of Private Security Organizations (GAPSO) had warned that Government needed to think the matter through before making a move.