Labour inspectors and probation officers have been urged to be vigilant to protect the interests of both workers and the government.
At the start of a four-day workshop held in collaboration with the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) on Monday, Minister of Labour Dr Nanda Gopaul said officers must be alert in order to defend workers interest as some state-run entities have also had to be reminded of the right practices inscribed in the country’s Occupational Health and Safety Act.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) report, Gopaul charged officers to resist bribery attempts. “Do not go on the wrong side; do not be tempted, you have taken on a job conscious of the role and responsibilities and remuneration… all workers of this country need some upgrading of their package but we have to do so on what our economy can afford,” he said.
He also told them to be on the alert for schemes such as the two-book system some employers practice to cheat the government out of Pay as You Earn (PAYE), and NIS contributions. “There are some employers out there always looking at ways and means to cheat the system… not paying minimum wages, no overtime, poor working conditions – unhealthy sanitary conditions,” the minister said, adding that government will never condone such practices.
“Another issue we have also is discrimination of wages paid to men and women for the same type and burden of work… often employers pay women less wages for a job which is being done by a man,” he said. Government will continue to examine ways to ensure that workers rights are always safeguarded, particularly vulnerable employees who have no trade union representation. The programme will be facilitated by acting Senior State Counsel Zamilla Ali. Further, Guyana will soon be adopting the International Labour Convention governing the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Gopaul, GINA noted, said that while the laws are to protect workers, the onus is on inspectors and probation officers to defend their interests. Therefore, officers must endeavour to keep and maintain proper records, complaints, minutes from meetings and other supporting documents “so that when [they] appear in court [they] will have all the material evidence needed to prosecute effectively.”
Further, he said if prosecutions are successful, there will be less ‘violators’. He then urged officers to be punctual, since tardiness has, in the past, led to the acquittal of many cases in the court. “Another challenge that we have is bedevilling the prosecution process, where overtures are made by employers to escape the long arm of the law… causing them not to turn up for court and causing them to forget the issue, thus allowing the case to slide…,” he said.
