Guyana begins overhaul of occupational safety laws, workplace standards 

The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH), in collaboration with the Labour Ministry, have launched a four-day project and workshop initiative aimed at modernising and strengthening Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) systems across Guyana.
The initiative aligns with the country’s 2025-2030 Decent Work Country Programme, which seeks to ensure that Guyana’s rapid economic growth is supported by safe working conditions and stronger labour institutions.
Speaking at the programme, which was launched on Tuesday, ILO’s Social Protection and Occupational Safety and Health Specialist, Ariel Pino, explained that the initiative is aimed at supporting the country’s tripartite constituents while ultimately strengthening the occupational safety and health sector in Guyana.
“The project is trying to support our tripartite constituents in Guyana to upgrade, update, and modernise the occupational safety and health system of Guyana, just to, as was mentioned by His Excellency, actually be at the same level of development that we want to see in Guyana.”

Pino explained that the Labour Ministry plays a central role as the competent authority responsible for coordinating the OSH system, while other agencies, including the Ministry of Health, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards, and sectors such as forestry and construction, also have important roles to play.
“The project is a contribution to this modernisation but fundamentally built on tripartite social dialogue. So, we have, of course, the pillar of Government, which is the Ministry of Labour, but not just the Ministry of Labour. As you know, occupational safety and health is horizontal and involves multiple actors when it comes to Government institutions.”
Strengthening safety & health systems
Meanwhile, speaking at the event, Labour and Manpower Planning Minister Keoma Griffith highlighted Guyana’s rapid transformation and emphasised the importance of strengthening occupational safety and health systems as the country continues its development.
Griffith said the reforms represent an investment in workers and will strengthen Guyana’s ability to anticipate emerging workplace risks, improve compliance and enforcement, and promote a stronger culture of prevention across all sectors.
“These reforms are practical investments in the lives of working people. They will strengthen our ability to anticipate emerging workplace risks, improve compliance and enforcement, and cultivate a stronger culture of prevention across every sector of our economy. In doing so, they will help to ensure that Guyana’s remarkable economic transformation is matched by equally robust systems that safeguard the health, safety, and dignity of our workforce.”

He noted that a key focus of the programme is improving the safety and well-being of workers, particularly within Guyana’s rapidly expanding oil and gas sector.
Griffith said the ILO-NEBOSH project provides Guyana with an opportunity to review existing arrangements and develop a modern occupational safety and health framework that is responsive to emerging risks, aligned with international labour standards, and capable of supporting sustainable economic growth.
“This ILO-NEBOSH project provides Guyana with a unique opportunity to review existing arrangements and build a modern occupational safety and health framework that is responsive to emerging risks and aligned with international labour standards and capable of supporting sustainable economic growth.”
He explained that through the collaboration, Guyana will strengthen its national occupational safety and health profile, modernise its legislative framework, update its national OSH policy, and develop a national occupational safety and health programme.
Griffith added that the initiative will also focus on strengthening the National Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health, enhancing the capacity of labour inspectors, employers, and workers, and developing modern occupational safety regulations, particularly for the rapidly expanding oil and gas sector.
“Through this important collaboration, Guyana will strengthen its national occupational safety and health profile, review and modernise its legislative framework, update national occupational safety and health policy, develop a national occupational safety and health programme, strengthen the National Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health, enhance capacity for labour inspectors, employers, and workers, and develop modern occupational safety regulations, particularly for the rapidly expanding oil and gas sector.