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This is Part III, and final part, of the Guyana Public Service Union’s (GPSU) 2024 National Budget Proposal to the Government of Guyana.
Revenue Authority
Revenue collection should be seen as an important Government activity. Workers should be encouraged to execute this function in a professional manner with very high standards. However workers executing this function must also be seen as an important and valuable assets to the Organisation. Thus they should be treated with respect and allowed to work under conducive working conditions.
The Union therefore is suggesting that the following areas be improved without delay:
(a). Improved emoluments for the employees of the Authority.
Taking into consideration that this is the largest Governmental Revenue Collection Agency.
(b). Resuscitation and introduction of the Revenue Protection for staff.
(c). Annual Tax free bonuses for employees within the Authority.
It is noted that the revenue collection for the past ten years has surpassed its projected targets. Certainly, this was due to the commitment and dedication of professional employees within the Authority. The Union therefore is strongly representing that a one month tax free bonus be paid annually to all employees of the Authority.
- Risk Allowance for employees with the Authority.
Some Officers by virtue of the nature of their duties are exposed to greater danger to life and limb; as such they should be satisfactorily protected from any danger seen or unseen.
- Provision of a Headquarters:– The Union supports that all buildings provided by the Revenue Authority for occupancy by employees are safe and conducive for work.
- Improve training at acceptable universities Local, Regional and International
This should include areas that support the developmental trust of the country, for example, taxation, oil and gas, auditing and other relevant areas.
- Public Healthcare Institutions and Employees
The only referral hospital in Guyana is the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. This hospital once had the capacity of one thousand (1000) beds. However today the number of beds have been drastically reduced to less than half which is the policy of the Government. This policy sometimes finds two patients sharing the same bed and also patients sitting for hours on a chair waiting for a bed.
Unsuitable working conditions at Health Care Facilities – Health Care Workers are forced to work under adverse and deplorable conditions. The working environment, including rest and lunch rooms are not in keeping with the standards of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Workers are often forced to use private and government vehicles as the lunch room or an alternative to the workstations in the presence of patients and their families. Such working conditions can be considered as unhealthy, hazardous and contaminated areas. It is very unacceptable for Health Care Workers to consume meals under these conditions.
It can be viewed that these working conditions are among the contributory factors that are forcing health care workers to migrate in large numbers. It is important at this stage more than ever for the Government and the Union to work in harmony to improve the working conditions, to provide more benefits such as scholarships, house lots etc, and to motivate workers to reduce the migration rate.
The Union is therefore representing that the Government of Guyana updates its travel register and include the various categories of Nurses to be eligible for duty free concessions.
National Psychiatric Hospital – The Union notes with much concern the comments made by the Hon. Minister of Health, Re: the intention of the government to close the only Psychiatric Hospital in Guyana. The Union is not in support of such decision and is calling on the Government of Guyana to rethink its position.
The Union is therefore urging that adequate funds be made available in the 2024 National Budget for the proper upkeep of this institution which includes the enhancement of the environment, adequate security system and the provision of proper protection for the workers of the institution.
Note, some patients are taken to the institution under heavy police guard but remain at the institution for healthcare in the hands of Health Care Workers without any security / protection.
The Union is also representing a special risk allowance be given to Health Care Workers attached to the Institution. The Union will strongly support a non-contributory life insurance for all workers with in the Institution.
Outstanding difference in salaries for Technicians – Health Care professionals in the past years were not properly compensated based on their status of employment however as committed employees they continue to perform duties with pride and dignity and strongly believe that this issue will be amicably resolved. To date this matter is still outstanding resulting in these Technicians being demotivated.
The Union has represented this matter at various levels and is therefore expecting an amicable resolution where adequate funds be made available in the 2024 National Budget to adequately compensate these workers for their services.
Increased allocations to GPHC and the Regional Hospitals to house Abandoned Patients – in all of the health institutions there are several patients who have recovered and are released by the hospitals but whose relatives have refused to take them away. The continued presence of these discharged patients in the hospital is a drain on the hospital’s resources and occupies needed and scarce resources such as beds, food etc. that are sorely needed by sick patients. Hence an allocation should be made to cater for these people.
The Union is therefore recommending that the Government provides adequate accommodation for these discharged individuals until taken care by relatives.
Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA)
The staff of the GCAA has, over the years, significantly improved Guyana’s level of compliance with international standards and recommended practices and the quality of Air Traffic Services provided to aircrafts transiting Guyana’s airspace. These improvements have resulted in a significant increase in revenue collection. Further, additional increases in revenue generating aviation related activities are anticipated in the near future.
In acknowledging the increasingly complex and expanding duties and responsibilities of the GCAA Staff, the GPSU is representing an increase in remuneration and, more specialized training at the senior technical level, especially for staff within the Air Navigation Services Directorate.
State Audit Department
It is important for us to stamp out corruption in this country. Therefore, we should all work together in this fight. To do this, qualified and competent staff should be recruited with attractive salaries and benefits. It is noted that audits were outsourced to private Auditors, who were paid superior rates (as compared to the salaries of the Government Auditors) for their work since the Audit Office of Guyana is short of staff.
The Union is therefore suggesting that the staff complement at the Office of the Auditor General be increased and allocations be made available in the 2024 National Budget to address the salaries and allowances increases for 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 and other related benefits for additional staff and to provide the necessary tools to perform the duties within the Department.
Sweepers/Cleaners
This matter is long outstanding, and it is very troubling to the Union and the country’s valuable workers, the Sweeper/Cleaners. These are employees who prepare the environment, making it healthy, safe and conducive for learning. Sometimes they perform the duties of teachers, mothers, even counselors while at school. During the year 2013 the then Administration, after realizing that these workers were not properly treated in relation to the Conditions of Service, promised to make the necessary corrections.
Unfortunately, years after that promise was made it has not been fulfilled, leaving these workers to continue to face economic hardships. These Workers are all FEMALE and this treatment is viewed as discriminatory. Mothers give birth to babies but cannot enjoy NIS or any other benefits. There are Sweeper / Cleaners who worked for a number of years and attained the age of retirement and off the job without any benefits. This has since forced these workers to seek employment as security guards.
Is this what we want for our people? No pension, no gratuity, punishing them for making babies.
It is time that a conscious decision and arrangements be made to have economic relief for our Sweepers/Cleaners who are permanent employees in order for them to be removed from the poverty line as promised. The 2024 National Budget must address this problem immediately by paying the outstanding NIS contributions for these workers making it retroactive for at least ten years. This will allow persons to benefit from a NIS pension. Appoint all Sweepers/Cleaners currently employed on the permanent pensionable establishment, taking into consideration the years of service, commensurate with the date of employment for the calculation of superannuation benefits.
Anna Regina Town Council
A subvention should be given to the Anna Regina Town Council to assist in offsetting the outstanding payment of wages, salaries and other benefits since 2013. Also to improve the Council’s ability to pay wages, salaries and allowances consistent with what obtains in the Public Service.
In addition, the Union is extending its representation to all other NDCs and Municipalities throughout the ten Administrative Regions that similar consideration must be given, so that all workers are able to earn a living wage, and be paid wages and salaries within a given timeframe.
President’s College
This College is the brainchild of Guyana’s first Executive President with the aim of molding students in preparation for higher learning and the world of work. Today it is sad to say that this College is in a deplorable condition. It is time that we work together in restoring this college to its former glory. Adequate resources should be allocated with full staff complement being acquired, thus there would be qualified and skilled personnel, as well as adequate provision of accommodation with modern facilities to house our students.
The Union is therefore requesting that adequate funds be approved in the 2024 National Budget for overall improvement of the President’s College to achieve its stated objectives.
Bureau of Statistics
There is also need to address the issue of remuneration, allowances and duty-free concessions. Matters concerning superannuation benefits and entitlements for the staff should also be finalized, including improvements of the work environment.
