Guyana workers in the private sector get 36 per cent minimum wage increase
Private sector employees in Guyana will receive a 36 per cent minimum wage increase from July 1, taking their salaries to GUY$60,147 (One Guyana dollar=US$0.004 cents).
A government statement said the increase has been officially gazetted and has now been signed by the Minister of Labor, Joseph Hamilton.
The statement said the move fulfils a commitment made by the government soon after coming to power in the controversial 2020 general election that was won by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).
It said the government had established a new committee, including representatives from the Private Sector Commission (PSC), the Guyana Manufacturing Service Association GMSA), and all Chambers of Commerce, to immediately hold discussions on the proposed GUY$60,000 increase.
President Irfaan Ali had announced recently that the cabinet was in complete agreement with the recommendations made by the tripartite committee to increase the minimum wage.
According to the Gazette, a worker who is being paid a wage rate higher than that prescribed should continue to receive that amount and would not suffer a reduction of rate in the account of the new order.
It also calls for workers to have an average work week of 40 hours which should not exceed five days per week. Any work beyond the regular working hours will result in the employee being paid at minimum rates set out by the Hours and Holidays Act and the Labor Conditions of Employment of Certain Workers Act or any other law in force where a trade union represents workers.
In addition, any employer who breaches the order's provisions will be liable to conviction of a fine of GUY$50,000 for the first offence, with the fine increasing to GUY$100,000 and imprisonment of one month for a second conviction.
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