The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry has proposed the expansion of training opportunities available to Guyanese to address the issue of labour shortage in the country.

In a statement, the Chamber of Commerce said having recognize that the country continues to grapple with a labour shortage, while navigating the need for a stronger Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) culture, it is continuing its efforts to address those issues, particularly through collaboration and stakeholder engagement. 

Earlier this week, the private sector organization led a team to meet with the Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton and other officials from the Labour Ministry to see how best the two sides can work together to address the issues.

Among the issues addressed were the labour deficit that exists in the country and the need for that issue to be addressed frontally through increased training. Additionally the two sides also discussed the worrying statistics as it relates to workplace accidents and fatalities.

During the meeting, the Labour Minister Joe Hamilton explained that over the last four years, more than 12,700 persons benefitted from technical and vocational training through the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), while there has been an increase in the number of women trained in non-traditional jobs. 

As it relates to Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE), Minister Hamilton expressed alarm at the number of persons harmed in work-related accidents so far this year, describing it as “frightening”.

He requested the private sector’s collaboration to address this challenge. 

The discussions also touched on the need for systems to be put in place for decent accommodation for migrant labour in addressing the shortage, the need for legislation to govern recruitment services, and clear regulations as it relates to workers who are not guided by traditional hours and periods of employment, such as offshore workers. 

The GCCI and Ministry of Labour are to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will guide their partnership in addressing these issues.

Earlier this year, the President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) Ramsey Ali, in his annual report stated that despite a 25 percent increase in business last year in the Manufacturing and Services Industry, there is a reported massive skill and labour shortage in Guyana that hinders the growth of industries and limits the country’s overall economic potential.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has also been raising the issue and the need to import skilled labour.

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