Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, kicked off the Government’s side of the 2020 Budget Debates by slamming the former APNU/AFC for its handling of labour-related issues as well as severely understaffing the then Department of Labour.
The APNU/AFC had converted the pre-2015 Ministry of Labour into the Department of Labour within the Ministry of Social Protection – a move that was heavily criticised by the various workers’ unions.
Hamilton, during the 2020 budget debates, explained that when he took office, the Ministry of Labour [formerly Department] was staffed with 87 persons. However, he noted that the recommended complement of staff should be 137.
“That is the reason why they could not have done anything tangible. So, you could not have proper workplace inspections…You could not have proper investigations of accidents. Because they don’t have the employees to carry out their functions,” Hamilton also said.
In outlining the plans for his Ministry, Hamilton said it is his mission to contribute to the economic and social development of Guyana by providing effective and efficient employment services to job seekers and employers. In order to achieve that, he outlined a number of functions which includes the registering of unemployed persons, matching job seekers with vacancies and maintaining a record of notified vacancies in both the public and private sectors.
Minister Hamilton said that Cabinet has approved the Joint Workplace Safety and Health Committee Regulation and expected to be brought into force. This is expected to facilitate a campaign to have committees established in workplaces in keeping with the Regulation. In addition, it will facilitate the promotion of the internal responsibility system for Occupational Safety and Health in the Workplace.
