Govt, private sector must work together to address labour shortage – Head of State …says partnership premised on mutual respect, not partisanship

…says partnership premised on mutual respect, not partisanship

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government enjoy a partnership that is premised, not on partisanship, but on respect and negotiating at the table.

This is according to President Dr Irfaan Ali, during his address at the PSC’s 31st Annual General Meeting (AGM). The President noted that both the private sector and the Government have their differences, but one thing they must unite in confronting are threats to Guyana and the economy, including through labour shortages.
When it comes to the often-mentioned labour shortages in Guyana, President Ali warned that the time may come where Guyana may have to import labour, as well as confront a potential steep rise in labour and construction costs. This is also exacerbated by global supply-chain problems.
“We’re looking at this matter closely, because the price of steel, cement, sand, major inputs for the construction sector, we are aware, can have negative effects on many projects. If we are to solve these problems which bedevil the economy, it’s necessary that we work hand in hand with the private sector,” President Ali said.

“This partnership between the Government and the private sector has never been partisan. The Government has never demanded that the private sector support the Government on partisan grounds. We have our differences. But these differences have always been resolved at the negotiating table.”
According to President Ali, these differences have always been resolved through co-operation, rather than confrontation and engagement, rather than disengagement. He also made it clear that the private sector are no sycophants.
“Neither does the partnership ascribed to the private sector, the role of sycophant or inferior partner. We have a respectful relationship with the Private Sector Commission. But this must never be taken to mean it is one in which there is no differences. Our partnership is characterised by engagement.”
“Over the years the PSC has demonstrated its willingness to engage with the Government, on the thorny issues that affect its membership. It has opted for engagement rather than sniping from the sidelines, as some organisations and individuals do. Engagement has brought greater understanding by the Government of the concerns of the private sector and vice versa,” President Ali said.
According to President Ali, it is because of these engagements that the private sector has been able to strongly advocate for its membership. And in the meantime, President Ali reaffirmed his Government’s support for the role of private capital in economic development.
“But we’re also wedded in a nation where there’s a social mortgage on private property. In the sense that private property must be used to not only generate wealth, but also to further us to the common good,” President Ali said.
“As part of this social mortgage, we’re expected to practice social responsibility. Without which the common good cannot be promoted. I’m pleased to say that the Private Sector Commission, as part of its exercise of social responsibility, is not indifferent to concerns that impact on the state of the economy and the rights and wellbeing of citizens.”
It was only recently that President Ali had lamented the shortage of labour. During a press conference in New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) back in February, President Ali had revealed that all the private entities in the Region Six are complaining about a shortage of labour. In fact, he had said that this is a national complaint.
The Head of State, who was wrapping a two-day visit to the region, had said Government is combing across the entire country to find available labour. Ali had pointed out that in the construction sector in Region Six there is a need for an additional 600 skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers.
Government is currently on a housing drive as it pushes to develop 50,000 house lots over a five-year period at an average of 10,000 per year. With the new house lots comes an increasing demand for the construction of houses.
According to Ali, the housing drive which is national, has created a demand for labour that the country does not have. He pointed out that Guyanese living in the Caribbean might be able to fill a percentage of the gap in Region Six.
In May last year, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had told the diaspora that there is a severe labour shortage, particularly for some types of skills. In fact, he had said that in some cases the Government may have to allow companies to bring in foreign labour to complete an individual project. (G3)