Human Services Ministry, GCCI launch partnership for work-site childcare

A strategic public-private partnership between the Human Services and Social Security Ministry and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) was launched on Wednesday to establish Day, Night, and Early Childhood Centres on-site at companies and business places, providing childcare services for employees.

Speaking in GCCI’s boardroom, Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud highlighted the Ministry’s Early Childhood Development (ECD) and Gender Empowerment programmes, emphasising the private sector’s key role in national development and securing a brighter future for all.
The Minister shared information on the newly established Day, Night Care, and Early Childhood Development Center in Region Three, which supports children aged 0–3 years 9 months through early intervention for their emotional and physical well-being, with the active involvement of parents and carers.
Additionally, Minister Persaud explained that the Ministry of Human Services will provide technical support, a model, staff training, and policy guidelines to businesses that wish to implement such centres within their workplaces.
She stressed that these on-site care facilities will ease the challenges parents face in finding childcare services, reduce costs, and offer peace of mind knowing their children are close by and cared for by trained professionals.
“Today’s initiative speaks of public-private partnership, where we want to work with all the persons in the private sector to ensure that the model is within your work environment. This policy will be one that I think will have the best impact, because we want every parent to have peace of mind, knowing their child is safe,” Minister Persaud stated.

She also outlined approaches to boosting entrepreneurship in the area of care by encouraging companies to hire service providers to set up and manage the initiative or adopt the consortium model, which brings women together to start and run their own care enterprises.
Through training and support from the Childcare and Protection Agency’s ECD Unit and the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN), these businesses can operate directly on company premises, creating a better working environment. The initiative is expected to benefit both women and men trained through WIIN in childcare and early childhood development.
“You will increase your outputs and your deliverables coming from those employees, as they will be assured of their children’s care and safety,” the Minister told members of the GCCI.
Several persons at the meeting, including GCCI President Kathy Smith, lauded the partnership and pledged support for the initiative.
“This is a conversation that speaks not only to parents but also to business owners, service providers, and community leaders. It’s a public-private partnership initiative that we’re proud to be a part of, and I believe it represents a critical step toward a more inclusive, family-friendly business environment in Guyana,” Smith expressed.
Several other members expressed interest in placing the facilities at their businesses or investing in and developing similar entrepreneurial enterprises.
Additionally, Minister Persaud discussed the Ministry’s Home-Based Care Policy, which will further support women establishing care initiatives in their communities, offering financial aid, technical expertise, and guidance. She emphasised that women can come together in consortia to offer vital childcare services while developing their entrepreneurship ventures.
The Minister urged business owners at GCCI to view corporate social responsibility as a way to transform communities.
“I want to ask you to partner with us to mentor and to support the development of these community-based day, night, and early childhood centres. While you look at what is happening for you in the business world, think of a community that you want to support and come together as business entities and support those communities with the establishment of childcare centres,” Minister Persaud appealed.
Meanwhile, highlighting men’s empowerment, the Minister encouraged GCCI to expand the network of Brave Centres, creating spaces for men countrywide, following the successful partnership with the Region Three Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the West Central Mall.
These centres provide opportunities for men to engage with experts on issues such as anger management, conflict resolution, and healthy relationships, addressing key social ills including gender-based violence. She urged GCCI to identify additional spaces where the Ministry can collaborate to launch more safe spaces for men.
Minister Persaud also introduced the National Gender Equality and Empowerment Seal, which will assess workplaces on gender equality, equal opportunity, absence of harassment, and progressive policies to address these issues. The Ministry will provide technical support and training, and companies will be awarded bronze, silver, or gold seals based on performance and progress.
GCCI’s president praised the Government’s pro-private sector stance and highlighted the importance of valuing every employee:
“Normally, the private sector is at the head of the work, and the Government is supporting, but this Government is tit-for-tat with the private sector. And we appreciate a Government that is pro-private sector and not anti-private sector,” Smith said.
Minister Persaud thanked GCCI and its president for their overwhelming support and partnership on these new initiatives.
She also toured the facility where GCCI will facilitate training for 30 women through the WIIN programme in collaboration with the World University Services of Canada (WUSC), equipping them with agro-processing skills to achieve financial independence.