Labour Ministry warns employers of violations
Georgetown, GINA, January 25, 2010
The Ministry of Labour is warning errant employers that failure to adhere to the labour laws including those pertaining to overtime, hours of work and age restriction on employees could result in prosecution.
Minister of Labour, Manzoor Nadir told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that the ministry was forced to issue notices after instances of noncompliance and violation of labour codes.
He stated that there is an ongoing campaign to ensure that these laws are complied with and those found to be delinquent will be dealt with condignly.
A notice emanating from the Occupational, Safety and Health Department seeks to remind employers of the laws that govern hours of work, overtime and annual leave.
The department specifies that the normal hours of work is eight per day except otherwise prescribed by statute, or unless agreed to by employers and employees for less than eight.
In relation to overtime, this constitutes all time worked by employees in excess of the normal hours on any day or week and for work on Sundays and holidays.
The statutory hours of work for employees in the grocery, hotel, restaurant, nightclub, guesthouse and other related establishments are seven and one quarter while workers at sawmills, filling stations, water factories and security firms are required to work eight hours.
There is also an eight-hour stipulation for workers in the printing industries, mechanical transport and household services while cinema operators, cashiers, clerical assistants and general staff should enjoy 48 hours per week.
There are special provisions in the labour conditions of employment for the workers in the food and hotel industry which specify they be paid at the rate of one and one half times that of restaurant employees for Sundays and holidays.
The notice added that granting annual leave to all categories of employees in Guyana is provided for by the Leave with Pay Act, No. 6 of 1995.
According to Section 7 of the Act, “Any provision in any agreement between an employer and a worker whereby the worker purports to contract himself out of the provision of this Act, or whereby the worker undertakes to receive any less benefit than he is entitled to…shall be of no effect”.
Section 8 of the Act provides for employers to keep records which are prescribed to show that the provisions are being complied with in respect of persons in his/her employ.
The following section of the Act warns that failure to allow workers on leave with pay or to keep records or any other contravention shall attract a fine of not less than $20,000 and not more than $25,000 upon conviction.
For each completed month of employment, every worker is entitled to not less than one day leave with pay and where the person is employed on a half-day basis, the half-day shall be counted as a day.
The Act also prevents employers from issuing leave with pay in periods of less than six consecutive days.
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Construction of GPHC in-patient facility on schedule
Georgetown, GINA, January 25, 2010
The construction of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s in-patient facility located between Lamaha and Thomas Streets is ahead of schedule.
Director, GPHC, Facilities Management, Parmanand Samaroo told the Government Information Agency during an interview today of the progress thus far.
“The contractor is progressing at a very good rate to date since the project has started…based on the evaluation and the method they are using…they are about 17 weeks ahead of schedule,” Samaroo said.
The upgrade of the facility is in keeping with GPHC’s master plan and the national development strategy to improve the quality and efficacy of health care services. The project is being executed by R. Basso Contracting Firm. Upon completion it will house approximately 300 patients.
Pile driving, wall foundation and support columns for the first floor of the facility have been completed. Works are ongoing on the second floor.
Samaroo noted that the project which is about 40 percent into its schedule is expected to be completed for September. This will include testing and commissioning of the building.
The facility will house all patients except those in the psychiatric, obstetrics and gynaecology departments which would be housed in the southern section of the hospital.
To facilitate construction works several departments were re-located. The gynaecology clinic was resited to ward E, southern compound, the Low Vision Centre to the multi purpose room area (beneath the medical library) and the public safety department (internal security) shifted to the ground floor of the administrative building (information desk area).
The GPHC is also seeking to integrate and consolidate in-patient services which are currently dispersed at the institution.
During 2009, Government continued to invest heavily in the construction, expansion, rehabilitation and maintenance of numerous health buildings across the regions.
Approximately $1.2B was allocated for the completion of the in-patient facility.
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Korean trade mission examining prospects in Guyana
- Import/export opportunities available to both nations
Georgetown, GINA, January 25, 2010
Potential areas for trade between Guyana and the Republic of Korea in raw materials in the areas of mining, forest products, and sugar related by-products are being explored by a Korean Trade Mission currently in Guyana.
The Korea Importers Association (Koima) Trade Mission during a business meeting this morning at the Pegasus hotel, with members of the local business community highlighted potential areas of trade where the country is seeking to import raw materials for its industries.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Manniram Prashad in delivering remarks noted the opportunities available in various sectors.
“Guyana is a country on the move, with enormous opportunities for investors, modernisation is underway in all our sectors and the economy is emerging as an attractive investment destination supported by macro economic policies, attractive investment incentives and a friendly business environment that does not discriminate against foreign investments,” the Minister said.
Noting that Guyana provides both local and foreign investors with favourable conditions to do business, Minister Prashad pointed out that Government and the private sector through the Private Sector Commission have implemented the National Competitiveness Strategy designed to further improve the investment climate and support the expansion of non-traditional export sectors while continuing to strengthen the various sectors for which Guyana is well known.
“We have experienced an increase in both foreign and domestic investment in tourism, mining, forestry, agriculture, aquaculture, manufacturing, information and communications technology and services. A large percentage involves foreign owned companies from countries such as the USA, Russia, Canada, Malaysia, France, Israel, China, Brazil and soon to be Korea. Guyana’s economy consists largely of industries dependent on the utilization of natural resources namely agriculture, mining, fishing and timber,” Minister Prashad said.
Government’s emphasis on diversifying the economy has resulted in Guyana undergoing an important shift from an agricultural and mining economy to one grounded in light manufacturing including value-added wood products, agro-processing and garments and services.
“Additionally, important progress has been made in Guyana in recent years in managing the process of adjustment to the new world economic environment through exercise of monetary discipline, improvements in the environment for private investment, reform of the tax system, creation of a property market, investing in basic education and infrastructure and boosting productivity in traditional sectors of the economy. However, on the forefront of the Government’s agenda is the will to improve our national competitiveness through the National Competitiveness Strategy and diversifying our economy,” the Minister said.
Government continues to work to further strengthen its economic policies by having stable macro economic policies, increased investment in public services, and improving the business and investment climate to enhance national competitiveness.
Minister in the Embassy of Korea in Venezuela Lim Jong-Seon noted that since 1970, the Republic of Korea has achieved much development and it is willing to share the experience of its development with Guyana to propel local development. He noted that since Korea does not produce much raw materials there are many opportunities in the area of mining and hydro-power. He noted that the meeting will serve as an opportunity for the two nations to understand each other better and the investment potential available.
Leader of the Trade Mission Dr. Wan-Hee Kim pointed out that Koima is dedicated to facilitating imports into Korea and expressed the hope that the meeting with the Guyanese business community will foster mutually beneficial arrangements. The nation seeks to import raw materials to boost its production and the Mission Leader pointed out that the team sees a trade partner in Guyana.
Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest) Geoffrey Da Silva in his presentation on market and trade in Guyana noted that the meeting served to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to explore both import and export possibilities and joint ventures. He pointed out that Guyana is the only country that continues to experience positive growth in the construction industry and that there are growing opportunities in the industry.
Noting that Korea produces machinery for many purposes, Da Silva noted that this is a positive opportunity for local manufacturers to explore avenues to purchase their equipment directly from the manufacturer.
Guyana is the first stop on the Mission’s tour of Central and South America seeking to establish arrangements with nations for the supply of raw materials.
Koima, with over 38 years of experience, is Korea’s only private organisation exclusively dedicated to facilitating imports into the country. Koima boasts 10,000 declared members, all of which are knowledgeable specialists in their respective fields. In total Koima members handle over 80 percent of Korea’s total import volume and represents 60,000 overseas suppliers and manufacturers from over 100 countries.
The Mission will be visiting Panama, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Central Asia, China, Europe, South East Asia and Asia.
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GPHC to conduct more kidney transplants in coming months
Georgetown, GINA, January 25, 2010
More kidney transplants will be conducted in the coming months following successful operations which were done over the past year, Chief Executive Officer of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Michael Khan disclosed during an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA) today.
He said meetings are being conducted with the team of transplant surgeons who are at present in discussion with the Minister of Health to recommence the kidney transplant operations.
Khan noted that the hospital would not be able to determine the number of persons who will undergo surgeries in the coming months since it is based on requirements for surgeries. The operations are expected be done either in April or May.
To be eligible for the surgery, a patient suffering from end stage renal failure has to fulfill three requirements: not having other complications other than end stage renal failure; has a willing donor; and preliminary investigation must reveal that the tissue typing indicates compatibility between the donor and the recipient.
The first transplant was successfully completed on July 12, 2008 on an 18-year-old Munesh Mangal of Lusignan, East Coast Demerara who received a kidney from his mother.
Mangal was followed by former army major Winston George who received a kidney from his daughter in January 2009.
The surgeries were spearheaded by an overseas medical team, assisted by local doctors and nurses.
The kidney transplant initiative was that of US-based Guyanese businessman George Subraj, a former rice-farmer from the East Coast of Demerara who is currently President and founder of Zara Luxury Apartments and Homes in Queens, New York.
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Ground staff to benefit from training
-in preparations for 20/20 matches beginning in April
The Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport in collaboration with the Guyana Cricket Board and Guyana National Stadium Management today launched a two-day training seminar at the stadium for all ground staff.
The training is based on proper ground-keeping, management of fields and cricket pitch maintenance and preparations.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony stated that participants will learn the basic techniques for proper ground-keeping and will be able to apply the skills which they learn to ensure that there are improvements on the grounds.
The Ministry, in preparation for the 20/20 cricket matches will be monitoring what is being done at various grounds, to ensure standardization.
He said more attention needs to be placed on resources, especially human to guarantee that services meet the requirements of the 21st century.
Proper field management is necessary since Guyana was selected to host six of the upcoming matches. West Indies will play the first game of a double-header to start the 2010 ICC World 20/20 tournament.
Minister Anthony posited that with the experience of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Pitch and Field consultant, Andy Atkinson, participants of the training sessions will become quite knowledgeable about the roles that they need to play that will result in having grounds with excellent conditions.
He encouraged the participants to learn the trade of ground-keeping while improving the quality of wickets and to ensure that the outfield is in good state.
This seminar is the first to be held for groundsmen at the Guyana National Stadium and will become a regular activity.
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