| The Labour, Occupational Safety and Health Department of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security on Thursday launched its Labour Laws Primer; a document that sets out the basic laws of employment in Guyana and is intended to guide employers and employees generally.Deputy Chief Labour Officer, Clive Nurse, said that the compilation of this document is in response to demands for information and guidance on labour laws and regulations. It will be useful to both employers and employees.The Labour Laws Primer that was launched on Thursday. “Every citizen” posits the Ministry’s Primer, “has the right to work, duty to work and the right to leisure. These rights and duties are provided by the Constitution of Guyana.”The Labour Laws of Guyana provide a measure of guarantee through procedures and institutions, for the maintenance of a stable industrial relations climate.The Labour Laws Primer contains 15 sections that feature the laws on Recruitment, The Contract of Employment, Legislated Provisions in Relation to Employment of Labour,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, the Treatment of Wages, Normal Hours of Work and Overtime, Leave with Pay, Collective Agreements, Social Security Coverage, Termination of Employment and Severance Pay, Trade Union Recognition, Record Keeping, Safety Health and Welfare, Labour statistics, Workmen’s Compensation and Other Noteworthy Statutory Requirements.The Appendix of the document contains details of the Minimum Rates of Wages, Notice of Accident, Register of Leave,NFL Jerseys Outlet, General Register of Fatal and Non Fatal Accidents and the Memorandum of Co operation for HIV/AIDS Workplace Education.Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Trevor Thomas, at Thursday’s presentation,Wholesale NFL Jerseys Online, said that in a globalised economy, the role of economic activity in the process of the creation of wealth must also foster social development which is felt at the level of the working class. Thomas said that the fruition of such social development requires the guidance and support of the Ministry as an instrument of the State.The Permanent Secretary said, that document is an attempt to provide literature outside of the Legal texts which urges and promotes conformity with the labour laws of Guyana.Thomas acknowledged the invaluable contribution of long serving Chief Labour Officer,Cheap Sports Jerseys, Mohamed Akeel, in the compilation of the Primer. He said that Akeel’s considerable experience has been instrumental.Thomas, however, admitted that the entire body of labour laws and regulations are useless and effete without a robust and effective programme to ensure and establish awareness and application.He said that the role of the Labour Ministry ought not to be limited to “fire fighting”; having to resolve strikes and crisis situations but must embrace a policy to promote a harmonious,Cheap NFL Jerseys Online, just and equitable relation of production.He said that the Ministry would thus be vigorously policing workplaces to ensure compliance. Moreover, a number of other initiatives are on the agenda, which will encompass the holding of seminars to educate the work force on the governing labour laws and regulations and also the enabling of Occupational Health and Safety Committes.Mr. Jerry Goolsarran of the Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry commended the Ministry for the compilation of the Primer but moreover posited that there is the need for the consolidation of the Labour laws into a more comprehensive Labour Code that will constitute a more definite and authoritative document.He submitted that such endeavour would constitute a necessary pro active approach to the concerns of the working class.Goolsarran, who spoke from an employer’s perspective, also called for a enacting of National Minimal Wage with certain categories of who can be deemed “precarious workers” being exempted from it. Goolsarran also advocated, for the private sector, the rationalization of the work week into a standard work week.Norris Witter of the Guyana Trades Union Congress,wholesale jerseys, commended the Ministry for the introduction of the Primer but posited that whenever laws are not enforced, violations invariably follow.Witter said that human and other resources must be deployed in order to enliven legislation, which may be lofty in ideal but lifeless without implementation. Witter submitted that in this regard, vigilance and diligence must be demonstrated. Witter made mention of Rusal’s wanton violation of worker’s right, as an abuse requiring the administration of justice.The foreign-owned Rusal has been accused of subverting the legitimate activity of a trade union as well as wrongfully dismissing workers. Workers have accused the Minister and his Ministry of apathy and inaction.On November 23, Kaieteur News reported that severed Rusal workers protested outside the Ministry of Labour and in fact accused the Government of the egregious offense of racism. The industrial relations climate, as of recent, has been one characterized by rancor. Labour Leaders have posited that a supercilious attitude of capital to labour perpetuates this rancorous situation.Clinton Urlin of Georgetown Chamber of Commerce congratulated the Ministry for this initiative positing that labour is an important “constituency” in the cycle of production and distribution.Urlin said that the Primer would be incorporated into another major publication of the Chamber with the objective of circulating its contents. |
