…as GCCI calls for fair enforcement to protect compliant businesses
The Labour and Manpower Planning Ministry has warned businesses in the wholesale and retail sectors that it will strengthen enforcement of labour laws, as concerns persist over non-compliance and high employee turnover.
Labour Minister Keoma Griffith issued the warning on Tuesday during a seminar attended by over 100 representatives of wholesale and retail companies and businesses at the Police Officers’ Mess Annex, Eve Leary, Georgetown. The engagement is part of a nationwide initiative aimed at improving workplace practices, increasing awareness of labour rights and responsibilities and addressing challenges affecting employee retention.
Griffith, an attorney-at-law, said the wholesale and retail sector continued to record the highest employee turnover in 2026, despite concerns about labour-law compliance having been raised by the Private Sector Commission in 2024.
He described the situation as a major concern for the Ministry, noting that limited progress had been made in addressing the issues.
“This sector represented here represents perhaps the largest number of workers and employees in Guyana,” the Minister said, adding that managers and supervisors had an important role to play in ensuring good industrial relations.
He said educating employers and employees was an essential part of the Ministry’s enforcement efforts, particularly as it continues to review and modernise Guyana’s labour legislation.
According to Griffith, the Ministry has consulted widely with stakeholders, including the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and the Private Sector Commission, and expects changes to the legislative framework in the coming months.
He said the proposed changes would seek to strengthen protections for workers while also addressing the concerns of businesses.
Stronger compliance
However, the Minister made it clear that the education drive would be accompanied by stronger compliance measures.
“When we bring awareness, when we educate, you can expect, or we expect, that there will be changes, that there will be improvement, so that you do not fall on the side of those who are non-compliant,” he said.
Griffith urged employers to examine the working conditions within their businesses and take steps to address dissatisfaction among employees.
He also encouraged businesses to recognise and reward workers who have remained with their organisations for five, 10 and 25 years, pointing out that employee retention and workplace relations were partly influenced by management decisions.
The Minister said workers should not be viewed simply as individuals employed to generate profits but should be valued for their contributions to the success of businesses.
“When they perform at their best, your business will thrive. This industry will thrive. And Guyana thrives,” he said.
The engagement forms part of the Government’s Decent Work Country Programme, which runs from 2025 to 2030 and includes awareness sessions and monitoring of how workers are treated.
Fair enforcement
Meanwhile, GCCI President Kathy Smith said the Chamber had raised concerns in November 2024 about non-compliance with labour laws in the wholesale and retail sector and maintained that businesses which followed the law should not be placed at a disadvantage compared with those that disregarded their obligations.
She said when one business invested in proper working conditions, met its statutory obligations and treated employees fairly, while another ignored those responsibilities, it created an uneven playing field.
“That is not good for workers, it is not good for responsible businesses, and ultimately, it is not good for Guyana,” Smith said.
She supported consistent enforcement of labour laws but stressed that enforcement should be accompanied by education, guidance, and meaningful engagement with the business community.
Smith noted that many micro, small and medium-sized businesses did not have dedicated human resource departments or access to specialised legal advice, making initiatives such as the seminar important in helping employers understand their obligations.
She said employees also needed to understand their rights and the responsibilities required to maintain productive working relationships.
The GCCI President welcomed the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to modernise labour legislation, noting that businesses and employers should have an opportunity to contribute to the development of regulations that affect their operations.
She also pointed to an upcoming national stakeholder consultation on Guyana’s occupational safety and health profile, policy and programme, along with a review of the legislative framework.
Smith said the Chamber remained willing to work with the Ministry to improve awareness and provide practical guidance to its members and the wider business community.
She said the objective should be to establish a working environment in which businesses could compete fairly, workers were treated with dignity, and labour regulations supported economic growth and workers’ well-being.
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