The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) has voiced its approval of Junior Social Protection Minister Simona Broomes’ efforts to ensure that the labour laws are respected by “recalcitrant” employers.
In a press statement on Thursday, the GTUC said it is encouraged by Broomes’ performance, despite her newness to labour. It said “her assertive manner in embracing and executing the task thus far, without fear, favour or ill will is encouraging.”
Further, the GTUC said the Minister and the Labour Department’s recent surprise inspection of Regent Street businesses is a step in the right direction as it signals to workers and employers the current administration’s intent “to deliver to the working class people relief measures from years of public abuse, mismanagement and violations executed/practiced by the previous government to deny and disempower them.”
It is known, the GTUC said, that the commercial sector, and primarily Regent Street, engages in acts contrary to labour laws and International Labour Organisation Core Labour Standards. It added that these acts serve to mar the country’s image internationally and demoralises the work force.
The GTUC urged the current administration to demonstrate its commitment to workers and change by “standing solidly behind” Broomes, as it has predicted that “big business contemptuous of the rule of law will use whatever clout to come down on her.” “Her hands on approach,” GTUC said, “will run contrary to those who want to continue the lawlessness in society.”
It added that it is further encouraged that over $16M owed to workers by “recalcitrant employers” was paid over via ministerial and departmental oversight.
It said it is also noteworthy that several employers are either convicted or before the court for labour transgressions.
However the GTUC expects in the future that there would be coordinated approaches, such as between the Labour Department and the National Insurance Scheme, to ensure compliance with the laws in order to protect and ensure the longevity of the Scheme and pensioners/workers’ social security benefits.
Meanwhile, the GTUC has also issued a call to Senior Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence to appoint the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board (TURB), which is legally required to give recognition and protection to trade unions and workers. Without the TURB, it said, there is an unstable industrial climate as workers’ protections guaranteed under the constitution and the Trade Union Recognition Act are immobilised, GTUC said.
In addition, the GTUC said it expects the government to appoint the arbitration tribunal to deal with the six-year impasse between the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) and the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI.) Although the situation was inherited from the previous government, GTUC said “the responsibility is theirs [current government] to act in accordance with the laws, failing which it continues the violation of the previous regime.”
Finally, the GTUC called on the government to continue to enforce the laws of Guyana, which it said guarantee protection of fundamental freedoms and rights of every citizen.
