As Guyana prepares to celebrate Labour Day on Thursday, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo extended warm wishes to all workers across the country and used the occasion to highlight the progress made in the labour sector under the PPP/C since 2020.
In his remarks, Dr. Jagdeo called for a deeper reflection on the significance of Labour Day, rather than limiting it to what he described as “routine, perfunctory celebrations” involving marches, speeches, and a return to everyday life.
“This day should be used not only to celebrate, but to track the progress the country has made in relation to labour,” the Vice President said.
Comparing Guyana’s labour landscape today with that of 2020, Dr. Jagdeo pointed to significant improvements under the current administration.
“Today, we have 60,000 more people working than we did under the APNU+AFC government,” he stated.
“The dignity of work is essential—it transforms people’s outlook on life. While not everyone may have their dream job, they are at least working now.”
He credited various government initiatives for the employment surge, including the part-time workers’ programme, which he said has created income opportunities for thousands. He also noted the re-employment of 3,000 Community Support Officers (CSOs) in Amerindian communities, many of whom had lost their jobs under the previous administration.
“On Labour Day, we should be discussing which government is actually creating jobs,” Dr. Jagdeo asserted.
“The opposition doesn’t generate employment; they focus on distributing money the country doesn’t have.”
Highlighting key achievements in workforce development, the Vice President pointed to the training of 2,000 teachers and the enrolment of 4,000 others in the GOAL scholarship programme. “Once completed, these individuals will be able to earn higher incomes,” he said.
He also referenced the signing of multi-year agreements with major unions, noting that collective bargaining was restored after being “violated” by the APNU+AFC administration.
“We negotiated wages through negotiations not by imposing them,” he emphasised.
Dr. Jagdeo outlined several tax measures designed to benefit workers, including increased income tax thresholds and the introduction of tax-free overtime allowances, allowing hardworking employees to retain more of their earnings.
He also spoke about addressing long-standing issues with the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), noting that 10,000 pensioners and 25,000 contributors who previously could not access benefits will now receive support.
Other improvements cited include subsidies on electricity and water, better access to housing and healthcare, and increased workplace inspections.
“Public servants are now receiving $105 billion more annually than they did in 2020 [equivalent to an additional US$500 million] in wages, salaries, and benefits,” Dr. Jagdeo reported. He also mentioned the reinstatement of the one-month bonus for the Joint Services, which was previously removed.
Anticipating criticisms from the opposition, the Vice President dismissed expected claims of discrimination and racism as “nonsense,” urging citizens to focus on the tangible progress made.
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