The Occupational Safety and Health Symposium opened this morning with Prime Minister Mark Phillips underscoring the importance of safeguarding the mental health and wellbeing of workers, even as companies aim for higher productivity.

Addressing OSH officers, government, private sector and workers’ representatives at the Arthur Chung Conference Center, the Prime Minister said the Occupational Health and Safety theme for 2026 – “Good psychosocial working environment: a pathway to thriving workers and strong organizations” – is apt, and draws attention to the need for companies and organizations to look inward.

Underscoring the importance of striking a balance, Prime Minister Philips said the theme provides an opportunity for companies to assess workload and working hours, establish processes and the quality of relationship between those who lead and those who labour.

“Respecting the boundaries between work and life is a necessity. Workers who are afforded the space to rest, engage with their families and maintain a sense of personal stability are healthier, more focused, and far less prone to error. In this way, work life balance becomes a critical safeguard, directly reinforcing the psychosocial well-being of employees. It strengths moral, reduces burn out, and creates environments where individuals can perform at their best without compromising their mental and emotional health,” the Prime Minister said.

He said psychosocial hazards such as work stress, burnout, harassment, poor communication, and lack of control over one’s work must be confronted, adding that such hazards are among the leading contributors to work place accidents, illness and death globally.

Prime Minister Phillips noted that here in Guyana, where the labour industry has transformed significantly thanks to the country’s booming oil and gas sector, steps have been taken to enhance conditions of work and safeguard the health and wellbeing of workers. 

“Our occupational safety systems and policies have been reviewed and strengthened and we continue to assess improvements at a policy and legislative level. We have trained a new generation of Guyanese safety professionals. We have insisted that every individual must meet the highest internationally recognized standards of worker protection. We will not trade safety for speed because the value of human life is paramount in everything we do as a nation,” the Prime Minister said.

Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma Griffith, in his address, alluded to the strides made by Guyana in advancing Occupational Safety and Health.

Minister Griffith said the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the National OSH Policy (2018) provide the legal and policy framework for safe and healthy working environments, particularly in climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, mining, fisheries, renewable energy and oil and gas.

“Building on this foundation, the ministry has expanded inspections, sector-specific training, offshore inspections, and outreach activities. Between 2020 and 2025, the ministry conducted 6,186 occupational safety and health inspections across-high risk and low-risk sectors. During this period, more than 27,000 workers benefited from OSH inspections nationwide, strengthening prevention and workplace resilience. These efforts led to measurable improvements, including a 12.78% decline in work-related fatalities and a near 50% reduction in non-fatal incidents,” the Labour Minister said.

Minister Griffith told the forum that this commitment has been reinforced through the signing of Guyana’s third Decent Work Country Programme (2025-2030), in partnership with the International Labour Organization, and other partners.

Addressing the issue of compliance, he said compliance alone does not protect workers alone, as he stressed the need for greater emphasis to be placed on prevention.

He said there is a need for risks to be identified before harm occurs, adding that systems also be designed to eliminate hazards and create an environment where workers can thrive and not just survive.

“A toxic work environment can lead to anxiety, depression, burnout, reduced productivity, absenteeism, and ultimately human suffering. Creating good psychosocial working environments mean promoting respect and dignity, supporting work-life balance, addressing harassment and discrimination, and providing support for mental health,” Minister Griffith said.

He said his vision for Guyana is clear and simple. He aims for Guyana where no worker loses his or her life, health or dignity because of their work.

Minister Griffith said it is therefore important for workplaces to be safe, inclusive, and supportive. 

The Occupational Safety and Health Symposium is being held in observance of Occupational Safety and Health Awareness Month 2026.

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