“Labour Day” is today, a special public holiday set aside for the workers of Guyana to reflect on their condition and to bring their concerns to the rest of the populace.
This year however Labour Day comes at a time when thousands of persons in Guyana are unemployed and millions around the world are facing the same fate as a result of coronavirus (COVID 19).
The disruption to Guyana’s economy and more so the world’s economies caused by this pandemic has wiped out the equivalent of 195 million jobs worldwide, according to the United Nations in April. Lockdown measures across the globe are no doubt having “devastating” consequences on labour markets. As a matter of fact, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Director-General Guy Ryder has warned that “this is the greatest test for international cooperation in more than 75 years.”
Locally, the national curfew and COVID-19 measures have affected thousands of workers – some of whom are either on a pay cut, fully unemployed or others working from home. Workers in the informal sector, small and medium-size enterprises will no doubt be facing the blunt of the impact and will certainly need income support to survive and put basic food on their tables. The measures put in place by the caretaker David Granger led-administration will not be enough help such vulnerable groups. These workers are unprotected and there will be no union fighting for their cause despite them playing an important role in the informal labour force.
Therefore, the proposal submitted by the Private Sector Commission on Wednesday to the National Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Task Force recommending a swathe of economic relief should be seriously considered. Thousands are not working and therefore the temporary measures as called for by the PSC cannot be considered unreasonable or a burden on the treasury. Among the measures that should be considered are unemployment payments; immediate removal of VAT from all food items, detergents and all household, medical and other cleansers. Bailouts for small businesses, postponement of a number of taxes, should be considered, in addition to the removal of mortgage interests and payments for the period.
Covid-19 impact on the world is “worst global crisis since the Second World War,” the ILO head said, adding that workers and businesses are facing catastrophe, in both developed and developing economies.
In a report earlier in April, the ILO stressed the need to uphold labour rights and strengthen health protection but also the need for fiscal and monetary responses to support the most affected sectors and vulnerable people, including financial assistance for enterprises. To quote the ILO head, “we have to move fast, decisively, and together. The right, urgent, measures, could make the difference between survival and collapse.”
There is no doubt that the survival of many rights here in Guyana are dependent on measures Government will implement. Generally, unemployment and poverty are two of the main challenges that countries, both developed and developing, faces. Unemployment leads to financial crises and reduces the overall purchasing capacity of a nation. For us we are already at the stage of reduction in purchasing power.
To date, while the across the board measures the Government has offered has had a small impact, we are yet to see practical measures that would help sustain the poor and most vulnerable in this COVID-19 crisis. Today, the trade unions that represent the interests of labour will not be marching in the streets to show their solidarity. They too need to step forward and address measures that will help the thousands of workers whom they represent and whom diligently pay their union dues.
The Government must act more swiftly as losing one’s job can means losing one’s dignity also since many will not be able to provide food for themselves and their families.
