With workplace safety being a major focus within the Caribbean labour force, Guyana’s Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d), Mark Phillips has issued the call for enhanced monitoring and unified action in an effort to minimise workplace accidents.
Addressing leaders at the opening of the 13th Caribbean Ministers of Labour Meeting held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Monday, he emphasised the need for strategic and coordinated approaches to address the region’s evolving workforce challenges.
The meeting which convened CARICOM Labour Ministers, representatives from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and other key stakeholders was held under the theme: “Decent Work for Resilience: Securing the Future of the Caribbean Labour.
“The challenges we face as a region are mounting. From climate instability to shifting global labour trends, from digital disruptions to growing informal economies…our response toward the well-being of our labour force in the region must be coordinated, deliberate, and bold. This meeting, co-facilitated by the Government of Guyana and supported by the International Labour Organisation therefore, reflects our shared commitment to building stronger, more equitable labour systems across the Caribbean. Guyana’s labour market reflects both the opportunities and challenges of a rapidly growing economy. As of 2021, the labour force participation rates stood at approximately 49.6 per cent, with an overall unemployment rate of 14.5 per cent, and a youth unemployment rate nearing 32 per cent. Key employment sectors include agriculture, mining, construction and the rapidly expanding oil and gas industry, which continues to generate thousands of new jobs,” the Prime Minister said.
Labour resilience, he added, goes beyond job creation, but requires fortified social, economic, and legal systems that empower workers throughout their employment journey.
The Prime Minister boasted that workplace standards have improved in Guyana, with over 10,000 inspections conducted in the past four years, benefiting more than 60,000 employees.
Labour services, he noted, have also been decentralised and digitised to improve accessibility for workers in rural and hinterland communities.
He further outlined ongoing efforts to formalise work, including collaboration with the Guyana Revenue Authority to simplify registration, incentivise compliance, and expand access to social security protections such as the National Insurance Scheme, as he emphasised the need for regional strategies.
“As this sector continues to expand, regional strategies are needed to formalise gig work, strengthen protections, and ensure that the future of work includes everyone, whether behind a desk, a wheel, or a screen,” the Prime Minister said.
He stressed that emerging biological hazards and post-pandemic vulnerabilities have made occupational safety and health increasingly critical, particularly in high-risk industries.
“In the Caribbean, improving occupational safety must be seen as a legal duty as well as a pillar of resilience. Our economies depend on sectors where exposure risks are high. That’s why best practices…regular safety assessments, emergency response planning, mental health support, and strong safety cultures must become standard across the region.”
