The voice of the workers must become stronger

Dear Editor,

With the increasing opportunities within the various sectors for women and the disabled, and the growing risks associated with sectors such as construction, oil and gas, and fisheries we must strengthen the importance of collective bargaining for improved safety, improved working conditions, improved benefits, and equal pay. These are considerations that affect all aspects of our economy including the service and hospitality sector, but unfortunately the voices of our workers have been diminished over the years and the voice of management has been more focused on capturing the rapid growth occurring and increasing their profitability at the expense of safe work practices, improved working conditions, and providing livable wages that keep up with inflationary pressures. The objectives of owners and management can and must be aligned with the needs of the workers, but to do so the collective voice of workers must be strengthened, and they must have a seat at the table with management and other key stakeholders. There are countries within Europe that have successfully achieved such partnerships between management and workers. If they can achieve it, we can as well.

The rapid expansion of infrastructure and other government services to support the aggressive transformational agenda being pursued also requires that the collective voice of government workers also be heard and protected to ensure that our national development is also done with their needs in mind. For example, our police officers have to safeguard the increasing number of roads and housing schemes being put in place, our firefighters also have to protect the new infrastructure, our military has to deal with increasing risks at our borders, our teachers have to support a larger and more ambitious school system, and our brave coast guard personnel must also be strengthened to help our fishing sector avoid the high loss of life we are witnessing. Those in high-risk occupations such as these and the power sector that GPL supports should be provided safer working conditions and a benefits package that ensures that in the event of loss of life their families remain financially secure.

This means improved insurance, improved death benefits, and safer work practices and procedures. Similarly, in the private sector many examples exist. Our fishing sector has experienced many tragedies. Fishers have risked their lives to bring in fresh seafood from our healthy waters for our citizens. We must not under appreciate the risks they are taking. A can of sardine should not be more valuable than a freshly caught high quality fish from our own waters. Even overseas the consumer values freshly caught over a can of seafood that can sit on the shelf for years. Our workers should be able to easily afford fresh food at a price that reflects the value provided by those risking their lives to supply it.

This means a livable wage for our workers at second world levels. There are also those working in the transportation sector who are facing increasing risks on the road due to overworked and underpaid drivers plying their trade, and with the widening of the roads many are in a hurry to make that additional dollar that is lacking from a normal day’s work schedule. The mining sector is also now being overrun by foreign companies due to increasing prices of commodities. Some of the foreign miners are not allowing our resources to benefit Guyana but instead are smuggling them across the border for their own country’s benefit. We must also continue to be adamant and focused on protecting the gains achieved in the agriculture sector, but more needs to be done. Our workers in the sector have had strikes due to broken compensation promises and as other sectors accelerate in growth, they must also be given the opportunity to benefit from the growth and positive changes occurring in their sector.

CRG recommends that urgent changes be made and accompanied by new compensation packages that allow our workers to keep pace with the new economy. As our country flourishes so should our workforce. As expectations rise and Guyana moves from third world status to that of the second world the new needs and concerns that arise must also be addressed. As higher standards are put in place and accountability increases the tools and processes that allow our workers and organizations to be safe, successful, and more competitive must also be provided to everyone participating in the process of transformation. As our hotels improve in their international ratings our workers supporting the sector should also be compensated suitably so they can also have the opportunity to experience the lifestyle they are providing for our visitors.

To achieve the necessary boost to our national workforce we must do better than handing out an annual cash grant that is the equivalent of a kitchen back door and a month’s worth of minimum wage. We must give workers the means to avoid significant debt in the form of a mortgage and a car payment. We must give workers the means to pay off their debts quickly and use the gained disposable income to enjoy the fruits of their labour. A house lot should be increased in size to help increase generational wealth and provide a means for the next generation to avoid the same debt trap.

The current administration must focus on renegotiating our current contract with Exxon and investing the funds of the National Resource Fund (NRF) with the objective of paying our workers a livable wage. Guyana must be for Guyanese first to ensure that every Guyanese willing and able to work with or without a disability can get a job paying a livable wage. Once that is achieved then and only then should the government turn to highly skilled labour sources outside the country to fill the remaining gaps in the workforce while our school children complete their studies and prepare to enter the workforce.

Time must also be given to our workforce to allow them to establish themselves within our society. Upon our Guyanese families securing financial security we should then allow less skilled labourers to enter the country’s service sector to provide the domestic, janitorial, sanitation, and security services needed. This approach will help maximize the opportunities available to all Guyanese across several generations, so they can secure their financial future and securely elevate themselves out of poverty. Exceptions should be made such as in the case of Cuba. They have supported us over the years and should be welcomed with open arms.

Our people have waited decades and generations for the opportunity to be successful. It is the duty and responsibility of the current administration to ensure that our resources are used for the benefit of our people first and foremost. Currently, the referendum is pending, the renegotiation of the contract with Exxon is pending, an improved sea defence and drainage system that can protect us against climate change is pending, and the structured investment strategy necessary for financial returns from the NRF to be able to ensure that the grants put in place are sustainably funded is also pending. The government must act to secure the future of all Guyanese for generations to come and our workers must become more organized to ensure workers are compensated fairly, competitively and worker rights are upheld and improved upon. It is time for the power of the people to be taken back by the people of our great nation. Our workers must stand together in solidarity to secure a better future.