Government plans no restriction on women security guards working at night

Junior Minister of Social Protection, Keith Scott, has been telling Security companies that he plans to take legislation to the House that would effectively make it illegal for security companies to mandate its female employees to work the night shift.  While his plan gathered some support, the security companies and many more dismissed the idea. 

Government plans no restriction on women security guards working at night

Minister of State Joseph Harmon today poured cold water on plans by the Junior Minister of Social Protection, by announcing that there is no ban on the employment of women working at night as security guards.

Junior Minister of Social Protection, Keith Scott, has been telling Security companies that he plans to take legislation to the House that would effectively make it illegal for security companies to mandate its female employees to work the night shift.  While his plan gathered some support, the security companies and many more dismissed the idea.

In a statement, Minister Harmon said while the Minister of Social Protection is responsible for the protection of all Guyanese including women, and therefore it is quite appropriate for concerns to be expressed about the condition under which women work at night, there is no policy position approved by Cabinet where there is to be a ban on any females working in security services at night.

Minister Harmon said, “as far as the government is concerned we have had no debate on the matter. The senior Minister of Social Protection in that regard would have to bring a paper to Cabinet and Cabinet will have to debate on it. Until such time that that occurs the situation remains as it is and that is to say that women will continue to work either day or night and there is no restriction on them”.

Harmon indicated that Government is however, calling on security companies to acknowledge and recognize that there are special conditions under which women should work and therefore those facilities for women should also be acknowledged and recognized by security firms.

“There is no restriction on their right to work, what we will ask and we will insist is that the employers who employ women must ensure the conditions under which they work that they provide for the special arrangements which have to do with women in the workforce”, he said.

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