Dear Editor,
Having received responses to the Guyana Trades Union Congress’ (GTUC) statement expressing opposition to awarding the Guyana Prisons Service a clean-up contract for the Le Repentir cemetery, some pointers needed to be addressed further. It is clear some are of the view that personal feelings rather than universal principles, rights and the rule of law should inform acceptance/rejection of the use of prison labour. In the creation of a modern, just and civilised nation, rights and the rule of law are considered key cornerstones. With the GTUC being guided by these principles, the view is not embraced to cherry-pick the aforementioned.
The issue before us is a contract awarded to the Guyana Prisons Service for prisoners to conduct work in a commercial space, in competition with other contractors.
The International Labour Organisation Conventions (ILO) Nos 29 and 105 speak to forced or compulsory labour and advocate its elimination. While it is the view of some that prisoners must be put to work to maintain their upkeep, it must be understood that this can only be done consistent with universal principles which Guyana has embraced by being a signatory and which underpin our Decent Work Agenda and our laws.
The Le Repentir cemetery falls within the purview of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, and its maintenance continues to be the responsibility of the council.
There exists a contractual relationship between employees and employer, among the trade unions and the city council. In fact, the city council is a commercial space. For any work to be done within this space by the council or on behalf of the council, prisoners cannot be used to replace civilians.
Having taken note of Minister of Labour Nanda Gopaul’s comments in response to the GTUC’s position, I am alarmed at the simplistic argument advanced on an issue that has local and international repercussions for Guyana and its workforce. To argue that this is merely a clean-up campaign, the exercise is for a limited period, and only a small complement of prison labour will be employed, so the contract is not a violation of ILO conventions, is to disregard said conventions and moreso the Decent Work Agenda, which the Minister has the honour to lead.
The core principles that underpin this Agenda include looking out for and eliminating forced or compulsory labour. The Government of Guyana as a principal stakeholder cannot be violating the very principles it is a signatory to and by which it desires the society’s labour relations to be guided.
International conventions, charters, declarations and laws are made to ensure equality in the society, to protect the vulnerable from the mighty, the bigoted, the intolerant and the ill-informed. As a nation we must strive to bring an end to the violation of laws, rights and universal principles. There is no legitimate justification for exploitation, regardless of how an individual or group is viewed. The issue of prison labour is clear and well enunciated in the ILO conventions and the Guyana Decent Work Agenda. Our politicians and government must act accordingly.
Yours faithfully,
Lincoln Lewis
