Following recent protest action, part-time sweeper/cleaners of public schools in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice), have welcomed a decision to have their positions regularised. Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) Regional Representative Maurice Butters related the news to several workers, who were happy that their plight had finally been addressed by Government.
Butters shared information from a circular which was sent by Permanent Secretary within the Education Ministry, Vibert Welch, dated March 8, 2018, which indicated that consequent to the review of the hours of work for sweeper/cleaners, a
Flashback: Sweeper-cleaners during the protest in front of the Education Ministry
decision has been taken to regularise the employment of part-time workers employed in public schools across the 10 Regions.
It stated that approval was granted for sweeper/cleaners to be paid the minimum hourly wage rate of $312 each hour they work; that they be guaranteed 12 months’ pay; that their working hours will not exceed 8 hours per day and five days per week, and that they will be allowed to work at least 20 days per month for the entire calendar year.
The sweepers/cleaners will be granted at least 12 working days annually as paid annual leave, which will be utilized during school breaks. Prior to the decision, the sweeper/cleaners were paid $24,740 monthly, and worked four to six hours per day.
Butters said while he is happy with the decision, the circular is vague and does not specify when or how the system of regularisation will be implemented. He stressed that there has been no word on same from the Region 10 Democratic Council (RDC), although he personally delivered the circular to the office since Saturday last. Butters said despite several attempts, he was unsuccessful in getting word from the Regional administration as to the way forward, as he stressed that new employment letters are now necessary for the workers, in moving forward. The employees also indicated that they wished for all these to be sorted out before the start of the new term, as Butters emphasized that he will continue to press for a meeting with the regional administration.
Sweeper/cleaners from Linden and Georgetown have been protesting Government for better wages since last year. The workers went as far as staging a protest at the Ministry of the Presidency, Finance Ministry and the Education’ Ministry’s Department of Culture Youth and Sport, demanding that their cries be heard.
