Employees want more than a paycheck – Labour Minister tells employers

Amid Guyana’s evolving labour market, Labour and Manpower Planning Minister, Keoma Griffith has urged employers to look beyond wages and prioritise fair treatment, safe working conditions, and opportunities for career advancement to meet workers’ changing expectations.
He made the call during a ‘Conditions of Work Labour Seminar’ with representatives of the oil and gas sector on Tuesday. The event is part of an ongoing exercise to raise awareness among employers about responsibilities and obligations under the country’s labour laws.
Griffith acknowledged that the local labour market is rapidly changing, not only by opening of new industries and the emergence of highly-specialised roles, but also by the expectations of workers.
“Workers’ expectations are rising too. Today’s workers want more than a paycheck. They want safety, they want fairness, they want clear contracts and opportunities to advance…the employees are calling for more than just a paycheck. They are calling for conditions that allow them where they feel valued…they want to know that if something goes wrong, there are rules, there are regulations, there are institutions that protect them,” the Labour Minister posited.
Speaking specifically about the oil and gas sector, Griffith highlighted how the industry supports a large number of subsectors including catering, security, construction, engineering, and logistics. In this regard, he emphasised the importance of the workers making these sectors a success being treated fairly, with opportunities to grow.
“The hands of this sector are very, very wide and diverse…behind every aspect of the development that I have been speaking about are Guyanese technicians, engineers, welders, drivers, cooks, administrators, safety officers and managers who do this work. Some of them live offshore on rotation, some work at shore bases and fabrication yards, others work in offices across Georgetown and all over Guyana. When we speak of the success of this sector, we are speaking of the skills, efforts and sacrifices of these men and women. The wealth from this sector must translate into a better life for these men and women. That is why we are having this Conditions of Work Seminar here today,” the Minister outlined.

Changing dynamics
Further reflecting on the changing dynamics of the labour force where workers now require continuous training and certification, to work on rotational schedules, offshore assignments, and alongside foreign nationals, the Labour Minister underscored the importance of employers clearly understanding how the labour laws work.
“Where understanding is limited, we see disputes over contracts and termination, confusion about overtime and leave, and most seriously, risks to health and safety. Our experience shows that many workplace problems arise not from bad intentions but from a lack of clear knowledge of what the law requires,” he noted, adding that this gap can be easily fixed through continuous dialogue.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Chief Labour Officer, Aslim Singh, who delivered remarks at the event, noting that “at the Labour Department, we believe compliance begins with knowledge. Most employers, we believe, want to do right with their workers. What they need is clear, practical information about what the law requires and how to apply it in their own workplaces.”
“Our officers, of course, deal with labour matters every day, we know how the law works in practice and where misunderstandings tend to arise. You, in turn, know the realities of your workplaces, your rosters, your contracts, your people and the pressures you face. When these two kinds of knowledge meet in one room, we all leave better informed. That is what we hope to achieve today,” Singh added.
Tuesday’s seminar brought together representatives from over 50 oil and gas and support companies. It forms part of the Ministry’s ongoing series of labour sensitisation seminars being conducted across the country to strengthen awareness of labour laws, promote compliance and foster stronger relationships between employers and employees.
According to Grittith, “the plan of the Ministry is to ensure that we cover almost, if not all, every single sector that has a large number of workers so that we can improve together, so that we can improve the conditions of work for the men and women who get up every single day, not only work for your companies but also build and contribute to Guyana.”