The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has called on the Government to ratify the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention: C190 – Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 and has sought President David Granger’s involvement to initiate this action.
According to a GPSU release, the union wrote the President a letter dated 9th December 2019 on the matter and he responded with correspondence dated 29th December, 2019 acknowledging receipt of the Union’s letter and informing that action has been initiated.
It is unclear why the union waited so late in the day to press for ratification. Parliament did not meet since May last year and the President dissolved it on December 30, 2019 in preparation for general elections on March 2, 2020.
The GPSU based its actions on the premise that workplace violence and harassment must be eradicated and the protection of workers guaranteed in order to ensure the right to equality and non-discrimination in employment and occupation for workers in circumstances of vulnerability due to race, gender, age, physical condition, sexual orientation or gender identity. This therefore, it says, is an opportunity for the government to send a strong message of support with its commitment and ratification of ILO Convention 190 – Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (C190) and have action taken to ensure that the accompanying legislation be put before Parliament for ratification.
“Domestic violence, which is prevalent and permeates the very fabric of social structures in our societies, especially here in Guyana, is also included as an element in this Convention that would affect persons in the world of work and would constitute a human rights violation”, the union said.
It added that the fight for the elimination of violence and harassment began many years ago in recognition of the fact that situations of violence and harassment are not a part of anyone’s life regardless of their social or economic circumstances.
The global fight and recognition of this scourge, the union stated, has culminated in the adoption of a new international instrument for everyone, dealing with violence and harassment in the world of work. This convention sets the standard and gives authority that the right to a world of work free of violence and harassment is a mechanism against such inhumanness. It added that domestic violence, which is prevalent and permeates the very fabric of social structures in our societies, especially here in Guyana, is also included as an element in this Convention that would affect persons in the world of work and would constitute a human rights violation. In fact, Part II of Guyana’s Constitution guarantees each and every citizen, the “Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual”.
The GPSU acknowledged the President’s recognition and formulation of a strategy to fight for the protection and rights of the vulnerable, having articulated a five- dimensional policy initiative that seeks to eradicate discrimination, poverty, violence and promote employment opportunities and educational access.
