The Ministry of Labour said it is vigorously pursuing employers to ensure compliance with its Occupational, Safety and Health laws.

During a recent interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA) Minister Manzoor Nadir said, “The welfare of employees is significant and so it is important that businesses are made aware of labour, occupation and safety and health laws. They ought to know that labour officers have a right to check and to ensure they comply with the laws.”

In April legislation was passed which caters for protecting workers’ rights, actions by government to strengthen the rights of workers; the recognition of the rights and need by workers and managers to sit at the same table. Nadir said all labour officers have the authority to enter and inspect any business, to ensure compliance with the law.

As regard Bartica, Nadir said the ministry recently conducted three days of inspections and found that over 20% of the business population there is non-Guyanese. He said this presents a challenge to the officers as the proprietors claimed they are unable to speak English. In the light of this, he said translators will accompany the ministry’s team during future inspections. The minister also told the foreigners engaged in business that they must heed the country’s labour laws and if they fail to comply, action will be taken against them.