Labour Day 2025 Trade unions call for national minimum wage hike, ILO Convention ratification

As Guyanese workers observe Labour Day 2025, major trade unions have used the occasion to call for stronger protections, fairer wages, and immediate policy reforms to reflect the country’s economic growth.
In separate messages, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) urged urgent action on national minimum wage parity, full enforcement of international labour conventions, and inclusive decision-making that places workers at the centre of Guyana’s transformation.
GAWU, Guyana’s largest Private Sector union, uses the occasion to extend greetings to workers, while expressing deep sympathy over the tragic passing of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge, noting the national mood of mourning. The Union also stressed that Labour Day remained a time to honour the enduring contributions of the working class, from farms and factories to offices and schools.
While GAWU lauded several Government-led initiatives including infrastructure upgrades, healthcare expansion, and skills training, an official statement issued by the Union expressed calls for the immediate equalisation of the national and public sector minimum wage, citing rising living costs and the persistent wage stagnation at the lowest tiers of the economy.
“GAWU calls for an immediate equalisation of the national and public sector minimum wage. For too long, workers at the lowest end of the wage scale have borne the brunt of rising living costs and stagnant pay. A higher minimum wage is not only a matter of fairness – it is a moral and economic necessity. It will help uplift families, stimulate the economy, and reduce inequalities that threaten social cohesion,” the Union noted.
“We draw inspiration from these international developments, reaffirming the power of solidarity and collective action. At the same time, we remain mindful of the threats that workers face globally: job insecurity, exploitation in digital economies, climate-related disruptions, and the erosion of labour protections. In this global context, GAWU recommits to standing with workers everywhere to pursue decent work, fair wages, safe conditions, and a future grounded in justice and dignity.”
Meanwhile, the GPSU reminded public servants of their historical role in shaping Guyana’s modern state, and reiterated its mission to fight for permanent appointments, collective bargaining rights, and decent working conditions.
The Union, via a statement, outlined a seven-point platform, calling for equal pay and pensionable job security; enforcement of International Labour Union (ILO) Core Conventions and ratification of ILO Convention C190 on violence and harassment in the workplace; investment in public services, and transparency in governance and labour representation.