Guyana: 36% wage increase for private sector workers

Private sector employees will start receiving a minimum wage increase of 36% from July 1, bringing their salary to GUY$60,147 (one Guyanese dollar = US$0.004).

A government statement says the increase has been officially published in the Official Gazette and has now been signed by Labor Minister Joseph Hamilton.

The statement said the move is the fulfillment of a commitment made by the government shortly after it came to power in the controversial 2020 campaign which was won by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

He said the government had set up a new committee, including representatives from the Private Sector Commission (PSC), the Guyana Manufacturing Service Association (GMSA) and all chambers of commerce, to hold immediate discussions on the increase proposed $60,000 GUY.

President Irfaan Ali had recently announced that the cabinet fully agreed with the recommendations made by the tripartite commission to raise the minimum wage.

According to the Gazette, a worker who receives a higher wage rate than prescribed must continue to receive that amount and not suffer a rate reduction as a result of the order.

It also asks workers to have a normal 40-hour work week which should not exceed five days a week. Any hours of work in excess of normal working hours will result in the employee being paid at the minimum rates set by the Hours and Holidays Act and the Certain Workers’ Conditions of Employment Act, or any other law in force where workers are represented by a trade union.

In addition, any employer who violates the provisions of the ordinance will be liable to a fine of GUY$50,000 for the first violation, the fine of up to GUY$100,000 and one month’s imprisonment. for a second conviction.