Aishalton residents educated on labour laws, workers rights
Some 60 residents of Aishalton Village, Deep South Rupununi, in Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) benefited from a sensitization session hosted by the Ministry of Labour last Friday.
The session was conducted by the Chief Labour Officer, Dhaneshwar Deonarine; Senior Labour Officer, Prandatt Basdeo; Labour Officer, Mark Burnett and Occupational Safety and Health Officer, Neza King.
During the sessions, presentations were made on child labour, conditions of work such as the national minimum wage, hours of work, overtime payment and the importance of occupational safety and health (OSH).
Chief Labour Officer, Dhaneshwar Deonarine along with other officials and the participants
Deonarine in his remarks, spoke about the causes and consequences of child labour and the approach taken by the ministry via the legislative framework and initiatives to address this matter. This, he said, can also be prevented and eliminated by establishing a partnership between the Ministry and the leadership of Aishalton village.
The Chief Labour Officer stressed that community leaders, residents and relevant stakeholders can play a significant role in helping the authorities tackle the issue of child labour.
Officials addressing the gathering
“The elimination of child labour in all its forms is imperative and the Ministry of Labour is committed to doing what is necessary to ensure we prevent the scourge of child labour,” he noted. As such, the Ministry intends to improve access to its services and in this regard, has employed officers in all the regions of Guyana.
Deonarine also took this opportunity to educate the residents on the Ministry’s Labour Advice App, the platform that aims to enhance access to the Ministry’s services.
The sensitization session with the residents of Aishalton Village was a very productive and insightful one.
