Govt launches childcare subsidy for essential workers

…as part of comprehensive COVID-19 relief measures

The Government, through the Human Services Ministry, has launched a childcare subsidy for essential workers. Frontline workers who are providing an essential service or key public services during the COVID-19 pandemic can apply to the Ministry for the subsidy programme.
This latest subsidy is among a slew of measures announced by President Dr Irfaan Ali geared towards easing the burden of Guyanese as the world battles the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among some of the measures announced by the Head of State are agreements with the local banking sector to extend the moratorium on loan payments until this year end and to cut interest rates. This means that customers with mortgages and other loans will be spared the financial burden of servicing these loans during the pandemic. In addition, their loans will not be classified as non-performing, ensuring that they do not default.
“Commercial banks have agreed to waive all bank charges, including ATM and Merchant Bank charges to encourage more out-of-bank transactions, as well as charges for transactions by senior citizens,” President Ali had previously said.
Additionally, the Bank of Guyana will relax certain requirements that will allow banks to cushion their losses and increase liquidity by $9.4 billion. These requirements are set out in the 13 guidelines that the Bank uses to regulate financial institutions.

The President also announced that commercial banks agreed to continue supporting businesses with short-term capital needs. This will allow the businesses to meet payroll, remain open, and keep their staff employed during the tough economic times accompanying COVID-19. It is also something the Private Sector had called for, since COVID-19 had resulted in reduced demand for certain goods and services. Additionally, all Guyanese households are receiving a $25,000 cash grant as COVID-19 relief with frontline workers also receiving an added risk allowance. Food hampers, Personal Protective equipment among other measures have since been distributed by the Government.
Meanwhile, in a release on Sunday, the Human Services Ministry stated that the childcare subsidy programme would assist essential workers who have children aged seven and under. Categories of groups that qualify include members of the Guyana Police Force and Guyana Fire Service; frontline health workers; human services workers; domestic workers; security firm workers and supermarket employees.
According to Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud, the programme is “an all-rounded approach to not only facilitate daycare subsidy for essential workers but to improve the conditions of the 224 registered daycare centres nationwide ensuring they open safely under the COVID-19 guidelines”.
“The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has created an unprecedented health and financial crisis. We’ve certainly all been impacted, but none more so than our essential workers who put their lives on the line every day to protect us. Many of these workers have to balance their jobs, maintain a household and oftentimes have to cover childcare expenses or find a safe place to leave their children,” Minister Persaud noted.
The detailed application form, which includes the criteria for eligibility, can be downloaded from the Ministry’s website: https://form.jotform.com/203022779944056. A hard-copy version of the application form will be available at the Ministry’s Lamaha or Cornhill and Water Streets locations, at the Child Care and Protection Agency on Broad Street or any Probation Offices in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10.
Throughout the programme, the Ministry will make direct payments for services, per term, to the childcare facilities.