Over 15,000 persons employed through part-time jobs initiative – Jagdeo
More than 15,000 persons have been gainfully employed through the Government’s part-time jobs initiative to date.
General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), Bharrat Jagdeo gave the update during his weekly press conference at Freedom House, on Thursday.
The initiative has proven to be a viable platform, paving the way for persons to sustain themselves as they seek out more permanent employment.
Jagdeo said many persons employed through the programme were able to obtain degrees through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), and have been able to gain more permanent employment as a result.
“A lot of people left and a few were re-hired. A lot of people found permanent jobs and moved off. We have had some people leaving, and a few others that came on. So, that’s the purpose of it, to give people a stepping stone to a more permanent type of job,” he said.
The initiative has allowed for one person per household to work in public offices near their homes for 10 days per month and earn $40,000.
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo addressing the gathering during the rollout of the part-time job initiative in January
Over 11,000 persons were employed through the programme in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), injecting $2.3 billion into these households since the programme started in the second half of 2022.
The part-time jobs initiative is one of a menu of measures implemented by the Government to cushion the effects of the cost of living. Along with supporting farmers and cushioning the net effects of the increased cost of freight and the Russia-Ukraine war, Guyanese are benefiting from a range of tax incentives. Among these incentives in 2022 were the removal of VAT on electricity, water and data; reduction of the excise tax on fuel to zero; in addition to many non-tax measures, such as the one-off $25,000 relief grant; reintroduction and increase of the schoolchildren cash grant, as well as its extension to private school students; and a one-off $28,000 cash grant for pensioners and cash grants to support small businesses.
The job opportunities allow for the employees to work for 10 days and earn up to $40,000 every month. The jobs are being offered in specific areas within Government Ministries and agencies, and cater to one person per household. So far, some 11,000 Guyanese are currently benefiting from the programme countrywide, and this would cost the Government some $10 billion annually.
The Government has been on an aggressive drive to achieve its objective of 50,000 new jobs for Guyanese, and this initiative has been part and parcel of the aim.
