Hinterland residents to be educated on workers’ rights

… as Labour ministry tackles exploitation

Recognizing that many hinterland workers often fall prey to big companies who exploit and take advantage of their lack of knowledge about workers’ rights, the Ministry of Labour has revealed plans to send trainers into various Indigenous communities, to educate workers about contractual obligations.
The initiative, which will see hinterland residents being more aware of their rights as workers, and of contractual obligations, was announced by Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton on Thursday, during day four of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) in Georgetown.
According to Minister Hamilton, hinterland residents have been constantly exploited by contractors, particularly those in the gold mining and logging industry over the years.

“This [is an] important issue, because – many Toshaos would know… – you have regular labour relations issue in your community, where people go out and work for contractors, or they go out and work for miners or loggers, and in a lot of instances they are not paid. … I have had engagement with persons from many villages … and I would ask this simple question. ‘Do you know the name of the person you are working with [for] the last six months?’ And I tell you, in one instance, the seven gentlemen told me the man that is called Mango.”
The minister added, “So they weren’t aware of the name of the person who they’re working with. They weren’t aware where the business place is located, and they weren’t aware of the person at all. So at the level of the Ministry of Labour, we are incapable of ensuring we go behind that person to ensure that you’re paid or your villagers are paid.”
In this regard, Minister Hamilton reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment towards ensuring hinterland workers are protected from these predators. In fact, the labour minister highlighted that there are readily available personnel who can deliver vital educational courses in hinterland communities.
“We have, and we can put at your disposal, our lawyers and the chief labour officer, who also is a lawyer, that they can have crash courses with counsellors and with Toshaos just to train you to do simple contracts, not to be a lawyer. Because the problem I have, and we have, is the employee says the man promised me $7,500 a day and the employer says no, I promised him $5,000 per day. If we have to take that employer to court, we can’t take ‘he say and she says’ to the magistrate. We have to take evidence.”

“So I’m urging again, Toshaos, to help us so that we can help your community, that we ensure that when people are leaving your village to go work with somebody, they have contractual obligations – the contractor, the gold miner; and we can help you via the legal team at the Ministry of Labour, to ensure that you’re trained in this regard.”
The labour ministry plays a vital role in protecting Indigenous peoples’ workers rights. They ensure Indigenous workers enjoy the same labour rights as other workers, including fair hiring, equal opportunities, and protection from discrimination.
The ministry also works to eliminate child labour and promote safe working conditions, collaborating with Indigenous leaders and relevant agencies.