Support Village Voice News With a Donation of Your Choice.
Last Friday a Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) delegation met with the Government of Guyana delegation to discuss the affiliates’ thoughts on what should be included in the 2024 National Budget. GTUC’s participation as a national stakeholder, was driven by its constitutional and social responsibility to the working class of Guyana, be they past, present or potential workers.
GTUC entered the discussion in good faith- and trust it was the same on the part of the government-in effort to move this nation forward consistent with the motto “One People One Nation One Destiny” and the Constitution and Laws of Guyana. We believe all Guyanase, consistent with Articles 13 and 149c of the constitution, should meaningfully participate and benefit from the nation’s resources in a system that is just and fair. Time will tell. Below is GTUC’s presentation.
Wages, salaries and Working Conditions
The Public Sector includes Public and Teaching Sector and the Disciplined Services
The Guyana Trades Union Congress and its affiliates demand that the right to Collective Bargaining in the Public Sector be consistent with Article 147 of the Constitution and treats with the respective unions as required by Section 23 (1) of the Trade Union Recognition Act, Cap 97:01 and its obligations under the ILO Conventions. Guyana Trades Union Congress and its affiliates reject the imposition of wage increases
The undermentioned is being proposed: –
- Convene public hearing on the Sovereign Wealth Fund to determine management priorities and allocation before spending from it.
- All borrowing must be tabled in the National Assembly for discussion and approval.
- Strict enforcement of the work permit rule.
- Information for the Wales gas-to-shore must be made public and hearings conducted on these projects before spending on them.
- Tax Reform and Land Reform are urgently needed.
- Establish industrial estate in each Region to create wealth, jobs and technical training.
- Increase old age pension to $50,000;
- Concessions given to Private Sector must be laid before the National Assembly
- Introduce strict rules on Procurement of goods and services and employment on Local Content must be put in place.
- All contracts with foreign leaders, foreign companies and business must be laid before the National Assembly for review.
- Tax on interest earned on swap accounts be abolished forthwith.
- Hold public enquiry into the Exxon Mobil agreements signed by President Janet Jagan and Minister Trotman to determine the differences so that action could be taken.
- All mining and oil agreements concluded by the Ramotar Government must also be examined.
Sustainable Development
Whereas in 2020 Guyana became an oil producing nation, the Government has committed to Sustainable Development and is a signatory of the United Nations Paris Climate Change Agreement. We propose budgetary allocation from oil and gas revenue to create an economy that is all-inclusive. The below items stand to achieve the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) goal of combating the threats to livelihoods faced by COVID-19, Guyana’s commitment to pursue Sustainable Development and the creation of a Green Economy.
Direct Oil Benefit/Cash Transfer through Social Programmes
It is the World Bank’s conviction that cash transfers are a Safety Net for many in society. The Bank defines this as “the provision of assistance in the form of cash to the poor or to those who face a probable risk of falling into poverty in the absence of the transfer. The main objective of these programs is to increase poor and vulnerable households’ real income.” Thus the undermentioned is being submitted: –
- PAYE and tax rebate– Personal Income tax to be abolished.
- Unemployment Benefit– Paid for a stipulated maximum time period, enabling persons in between jobs to be able to sustain themselves at least on the basics. Activate NIS Unemployment Regulation on the matter.
- Meal programme– Expansion to provide a daily balanced lunch for school children from nursery to secondary for all public schools. Parents could opt in or out.
- Improvement of medical services– Establish fully equipped main referral hospitals in all ten regions with a trauma center, intensive care, and diagnostic facilities. More resources must be dedicated to Preventative Care, inclusive of yearly mammograms, pap smears, prostate, basic annual blood tests, etc. as necessary for promoting a healthy lifestyle and society.
- Reduction in electricity, transportation, and gas prices– Transfer benefit through reduction in the cost of electricity and the sale of non-taxable gas. Support of a public transportation system which would create competition and alternatives, and more so aid the vulnerable in being able to afford and access this service.
- Green economy– cash transfers to encourage citizens to engage in more clean energy, for example, solar and or wind energy and other sustainable development programmes.
- Property owners’ direct and indirect cash transfers through interest-free or very low- interest rate soft loans to improve and maintain residences and immediate home environment. This will lend to the beautification of property, our communities, villages, and towns.
- First time homeowners- A programme with a requisite fund be established to meet first time homeowners where each person can be given the sum of $3,000,000 as a grant for the purchase of a home
- Erasing National Insurance Scheme (NIS) deficit– Return the Scheme to viability given it is the most important pillar safeguarding workers’ income and protecting each against loss of pay as a result of industrial, injury, sickness, maternity and other conditions such as old age, invalidity and loss of income through death of the breadwinner and providing assistance with medical care and other benefits. This will correct the years where NIS was adversely affected by political decisions that militated against actuarial decisions.
- Increase in NIS minimum pension– A comprehensive review of the NIS to be conducted with the view of having its minimum pension reflective of seventy-five percent (75%) of the state minimum wage.
- Immediate restoration of the constitutional right to free education (Article 27) from nursery to university- This should see capacity building in the University of Guyana, technical and vocational schools, and the start of early public education that prepares our children for a technologically driven economy with e-learning. This includes facilitating the expansion and upgrading of Critchlow Labour College, GITC, Government Technical institutes, NARI, Guyana School of Agriculture, Institute of Development and Continuing Education, etc.
- Support for Village Economy- By making available to 70 villages $25 million dollars each for job creation, e.g. poultry rearing, cash crops, cattle rearing, computer training, dressmaking, and numerous other activities to uplift rural villages.
- Revetment and covered concrete drainage (and irrigation)- Structures meeting certain specific building and structural requirements as stipulated by the regional and local government authorities or those with oversight responsibilities, that will serve to regain much-needed land space and which can be utilised for greater parking and safer road use.
Cooperatives (Revitalisation)
The cooperatives sector needs to be re-energised as such it becomes necessary for the state to play an active and leading role in delivering, counseling, and day-to-day guidance. This country is named the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and cooperative over the years has been seen as an important sector in our Tristate economy. For centuries it has been the economy of the small man.
The re-energising of this sector can contribute immensely in putting to work significant resources that are under its control.
