With sections of the private sector being caught flat-footed by the new 40-hour work week and the $35,000 minimum wage, the employers’ body, CAGI has been blamed for not adequately disseminating information, a charge its head has dismissed.
While a five-day, 40-hour work week had been talked about for many years, who was privy to the decision-making has been queried by sections of the private sector. The decisions had been made at a tripartite meeting comprising the government, the unions and the Ministry of Labour and only transmitted to sections of the private sector in late May for implementation on July 1st. Security services and other businesses which have been contracted on old wage rates have since complained about the impact on their bottom line. One security firm RK’s has already announced the abrogation of several contracts and other companies have abandoned working on Saturdays to limit costs from the five-day, 40 hour work week. The contretemps could likely lead to changed representation for the private sector at tripartite meetings.
In an interview with Stabroek News last week, Executive director of the Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry (CAGI), Samuel Goolsarran stated that “I don’t work for the Chamber and the (tripartite) committee, the discussions were