“Building Workforce Partnership” – Min. Scott meets with contractors in oil and gas sector
– Department of Labour and several stakeholders participated in workforce laws interactive session
– Immigration and Support services sensitise foreign investors on acquiring work permit visas
– Proper record keeping among critical factor raised
by Ayana George
DPI, Guyana, Friday, June 7, 2019
On Friday, the Ministry of Social Protection, Department of Labour and the Immigration and Support Services conducted a meeting with contractors for the oil and gas sector to strengthen workforce relations.
The meeting, which strictly targeted the sensitisation of foreign and local investors within the sector, provided participants with information on how to apply for their visitor’s visa and work permit when seeking employment in Guyana.
The Head of Immigration and Support Services, attached to the Ministry of Citizenship, Carol Lewis-Primo highlighted the importance of persons in the business sector understanding and adhering to the laws of Guyana if they are to function effectively in the country.
She noted that the Immigration Department is working closely with the Department of Labour to have businesses, by foreign investors, registered. She noted too that persons entering the country for employment purposes are recorded in a database. This, she explained, will be able to assist the easy access to records if a person is caught breaching the labour laws.
Annual Vocational Leave, Basic Salary, recruitment, Severance Allowance and Occupational Health and Safety were just a few of the issues raised at the meeting.
Sharing his view, Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott emphasised that the Labour Department makes it mandatory that persons understand the Labour Laws so that there is no breach or discrimination of such laws.
“We recognised that the work pattern is changing and it is important that the Labour Department strengthen communication with contractors for the Oil and Gas Sector and among others. It is mandatory that we input the relevant information in our data and this must be done on a monthly basis – we need to know the amount of recruitment and change of staff within the sector,” Minister Scott noted.
He explained that every employee who is part of an industry is a part of the economic pie and feeds into the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Guyana.
“In order to build our human resources in Guyana, it is critical that every sector adhere to their employees right. The development of local content in all operations is a core element for everything we do, the inclusion of locals in every operation,” Minister Scott highlighted.
Images: Abike Barker