GOVERNMENT INFORMATION AGENCYGINA

INFORMATION FOR NATION BUILDINGINFORMATION FOR NATION BUILDING

Information Technology UnitArea ‘B’ Homestretch Avenue

D’Urban BacklandsGeorgetown Guyana.

Tel: (592) 226-6715, 226-8849Fax: (592) 226-4003

www.gina.gov.gygina@gina.gov.gy

Compiled by: Ramesh Sukhdeo Editor-in-Chief: Shanta GobardhanLayout/Design: Latchman Khamraj

Copyright © July 2011

From 2006 – to date, a total of 13626 persons were registered for placement through the CRMA and of this number 9677 were placed in jobs. The registration and placement figures are representations of persons who registered and received placement through the offices in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six and via the new online service. The service has been used more frequently by businesses with almost 3000 vacancies being placed with the CRMA.

YEAR 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 July totals JOBSEEKERS

1352

2334

2342

2732

3003

1863

13626

VACANCIES

1154

1637

2005

2479

2972

1875

12122

PLACEMENT

991

1454

1650

2023

2270

1289

9677

HIV/AIDS workplace programmeIn ensuring that the workforce is protected, and that stigma and discrimination against HIV/AIDS in the workplace is removed the Labour Ministry continues to push a strong national HIV/AIDS workplace programme which saw many businesses and workplaces committing to being equal opportunity employers.

Recipient of Heavy Duty Equipment Operator Training Programme

LOSH workshop

Over 16000 people have had their lives positively impacted on by policies and programmes of the Labour portfolio – almost 10000 got jobs and over

6000 have been empowered by the skills programme conducted by the Board of Industrial Training (BIT)

The Labour Portfolio has been aggressive in providing highly efficient and effective services to the workforce. These services include -

·Safety and protection of workers ·Skills training for unemployed youths·Job placement services·Prevention of child labour·HIV and AIDS in the workplace.

Labour, Occupational Health and Safety (LOSH) Department

Safety and protection of workers

Government has been working continuously to ensure the rights of workers are respected, labour laws are better enforced and interventions are made where employers fail to honour their obligations to workers. Today the country's Labour Laws provide a great measure of guarantee for workers and through procedures and institutions they are working for the maintenance of a stable industrial relations environment.

Major outreaches are conducted at workplaces throughout the country, from along the coastland as well as far reaching communities including Mahdia, Lethem, Crabwood Creek, Kwakwani, Iwokrama, Linden, Bartica, Port Kaituma, Parika and Mabaruma, contributing to a much safer working environment. Over 3000 inspections are done annually. In 2009 over 4000 were done.

To improve the abilities of the Labour Staff, strong emphasis is placed on training and exposure for the staff, especially in the areas occupational health and safety. With the a s s i s t a n c e o f t h e

International Labour Organization (ILO) office in Trinidad and Tobago, the Inter American conference of Labour Ministers (IACML) of the Organization of American States (OAS) and the United States Department of Labour (USDOL), all of the staff have been involved in overseas training over the past three years.

Guyana was elected to the executive committee of the IACML in 2007 and re-elected in 2009.

Workforce TrainingThe National Training Project for Youth Empowerment (NTPYE) which was launched by President Bharrat Jagdeo in 2005 moved into top gear during the 2007 to 2010 period. Several programmes were initiated to allow youths (early school leavers and school dropouts) to develop their potential and has been providing thousands with the opportunities to acquire employable skills.

Programme 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 NTPYE 487 569 1498 2168 2000 est Single Parents Training

373 336 400 est

Eradicating child labour

The Ministry has partnered with several Ministries and agencies including education, health and the Guyana Teachers' Union for the establishment of a National Steering Committee on Child Labour in 2003. Government also embarked on an anti child labour project, in collaboration with the ILO, to reduce truancy and increase school attendance. This Project called TACKLE supported strong anti-truancy campaigns in various communities across the country. Also aggressive public education programmes were done o educate the population on the harm and hurt child labour can inflict.

New programmes such as Heavy Duty Equipment Operators training, Garment construction, Information Technology and Office Procedure, Catering and Auto Refrigeration and Electronic Diagnosis were introduced.

A programme targeting Single Parents, for the workforce, commenced in 2009.

In excess of 5000 youths and single parents were empowered during the last four years, with over $650 million spent by BIT.

CRMAT h e C e n t r a l R e c r u i t m e n t a n d Manpower Agency (CRMA), a division of t h e M L H S & S S launched an Interactive Online Programme, allowing for business persons to register their vacanc ies wi thout leaving their offices by posting information on t h e w e b s i t e , www.crma-gy.com. Unemployed persons searching for jobs can visit from any part of the country and send in their particulars. This and other administrative changes along with strong public education campaigns have contributed to a turnaround of the fortunes of this Agency

Youth taking advantage of the Labour Ministry’s Job Fair

Recipients of the Board of Industrial Training auto air conditioning, electronics and fuel systems

training programme

LOSH Officer carrying out workplace inspection

LOSH Officer in discussion with an employee