Central, Upper Corentyne employers educated on Guyana’s labour laws

Employers and representatives from private sector agencies in the Central and Upper Corentyne, Region Six, on Wednesday, participated in a seminar hosted by the Labour Ministry to discuss Guyana’s Labour Laws and workplace conditions.
The seminar, held in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce and the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), focused on educating attendees on key aspects of labour legislation.
During the seminar, participants received valuable information on overtime regulations, termination of employment, notice and severance pay, inspection and record-keeping requirements, probationary periods, paid leave, and workplace safety and health standards.
This seminar is part of a broader initiative aimed at raising awareness among employers of their legal rights and obligations, as well as the rights of their employees.
In his keynote address, Chief Labour Officer Dhaneshwar Deonarine underscored the ministry’s ongoing efforts to enhance public access to its services, highlighting the recently launched Labour Advice App, which allows both employers and employees to directly engage with the Ministry.
The CLO stated that over the past three years, the ministry’s labour inspectors have been able to conduct some 1,267 business inspections across the region. These inspections, he explained presented the businesses with the opportunity to address areas of non-compliance with the country’s labour laws.
As a result, the ministry has recognised a 45 per cent decline in worker complaints as of July 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 which Mr. Deonarine said demonstrates the ministry’s commitment to protecting the rights and well-being of workers.
President of the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce Poonai Bhigroog, praised the Ministry for its proactive approach to equipping employers with comprehensive knowledge of Guyana’s Labour Laws and workplace conditions, amidst the region’s ongoing development.
With that in mind, he also encouraged continued collaboration between the Chamber and the Ministry to explore employment and training opportunities to address the region’s skill gap.
Meanwhile, NIS Inspector William Paul highlighted the necessity for employers to ensure their employees are registered with the scheme, which is essential for accessing NIS benefits. He also took the opportunity to clarify various issues related to NIS contributions.