Labour Ministry ending discrimination in pay between foreigners and nationals

– Minister Hamilton

LABOUR Minister Joseph Hamilton promises to end the system of super-salaries for foreigners
compared with what is earned by a local who perform a similar task.
“I have said it before that I will not accept you bringing people into this country and pay them
five or ten times more than locals to do the same job,” Minister Hamilton emphasises.
Since his appointment to head the country’s labour sector, Mr. Hamilton has been holding talks
with the nascent oil and gas experts warning that there will be equality of compensation for both
categories of workers.
“Gone are the days when locals are paid several times less than those coming into the country,”
Minister Hamilton reiterated.
In an exclusive with www.aroundtheregions.com the Minister says parity of payment between
expatriate and local workers forms part of the restructuring and reorganising of the Labour
Ministry which is part of the five-year legislative agenda of President Dr Irfaan Ali.
Hamilton will key Labour Ministry staff to be multi-lingual to interact with foreigners operating
in the sector.
“I have 22 – 24 staff right now doing foreign-language training to better serve the workplaces.
They are currently learning Spanish and French and I can tell you when they are finished, we
would also provide foreign-language training in Mandarin to equip them to address issues with
Chinese nationals.”
“We must ensure that our staff are competent and efficient, so irrespective of who the employers
are and what language is being spoken by workers and or the management of these companies
we can address them,” a confident-sounding Hamilton said.
Looking forward to 2021, Hamilton reveals that currently some persons are being trained in the
Oil and Gas sector in Trinidad to help address competently the wide range of issues that will
confront this country.

“Early next year I want my labour officers to be able to be on these vessels and engage (with
experts) in the oil and gas industry. We have to train our officers as to what to look for (and) how
to look for them,” Minister Hamilton counsels.
Human source development is also high on the Labour Ministry’s 2021-and-beyond agenda.
Have regained its status as a standalone ministry, Hamilton promises that the public can continue
to expect significant development in several labour-related areas including all elements of
workers welfare. This includes improving access of opportunities for everyone; protection of
workers’ rights; equal pay for equal work; the right to join unions and/or workers representation
bodies.
Hamilton assures that all of these will be open to all workers regardless of their political
affiliation.
Hamilton wants to change the stereotype attached to his ministry only as a broker in settling
squabbles between workers and employers.
“The Labour Ministry has several departments: the BIT (Board of Industrial Training) deals with
training and hundreds of youths gain skills from that programme. We will expand the
programmes and add other programmes. We are expanding the ICT (Information,
Communication and Technology) programmes and are currently employing technicians to teach
solar repair and maintenance. So, we are providing additional programmes and we are ensuring
that they reach everyone in Guyana, so that everyone can take advantage of these programmes,”
he states.
He cautions private firms that feel they can circumvent and exploit lacunae in the law to benefit
themselves. Those guilty of flouting regulations will be justly penalized, the Minister promises.
He will be seeking heftier penalties for breaches of the labour code.
Education and information will help guide Hamilton’s modus operandi before resorting to
punitive measures.

“I have taken a different approach to labour issues to my predecessors and part of it is
education and information because I have said I will utilise the law to deal with those who
think that they can do as they like. I also plan to look at legislations for review,” Minister
Hamilton promises.